🎧 53. Let's Plan a Writing Retreat!
Your guide to making the most of time away, even if it's only for a night.
The day I was set to drive home from my writing retreat in Feburary, I took a long walk on the beach. As I crossed the road and headed down the wooden path, I immediately noticed that the ocean seemed different. The waves had been larger and a bit more ferocious yesterday, but today, the sea was calm.
We know waves are impacted by tides and weather systems, and that’s not unlike our bodies—we have energy shifts and hormonal ebbs and flows too. I stood in deep recognition of nature’s cyclical wisdom, and completely softened into what I’d accomplished during my brief stay.
It would have been easy to think I should push to do more in the last few hours, as if the nearly 2,000 words I’d already written wasn’t enough, but the Atlantic offered up a beautiful reminder:
The ocean isn’t the same every day, and neither are we.
If you’re ready to give yourself the gift of space, time, and rest, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the highs and lows my own retreat, plus lots of takeaways to help you plan your own DIY getaway.
Episode Highlights:
Why even one night away is always worth it (and how to make the most of a short trip)
Thinking through the when, where, and how—logistics are covered
The pros and cons of solo vs. group retreats
The value of meal planning (including my favorite sparkling water and a tip for when you get home)
Seeing the momentum before and after a retreat as adding to the overall experience
How to capture retreat magic at home
Linkable Mentions:
Episode 52: Micro-Shifts to Prioritize Writing
What to bring on a writing retreat (via
)Aura Bora sparkling water
Vacation Anticipation Can Boost Happiness (Well+Good)
Over to you…
What step can you take TODAY to get closer to a retreat within the next few months?
Are you dreaming of something far away, or planning to stay close to home? (And if you have an obstacle in your way, let’s talk about it!)
🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. While you’re there, please rate and review the show too! It’ll help other writers find it more easily, and I’d really appreciate it.
Hi Nicole...I really enjoyed this episode! Every year I drive 3 hours to the home of my writing mentor and join two others for the weekend...we write, discuss our WIP, bring examples of other writing we've enjoyed or book recommendations. I do all the cooking (as catering is my background and I so enjoy it) and we eat simple healthy meals, drink no alcohol, watch no tv...we do have periods where we can be alone if we want to be. I always go for early morning walks and there's a couple of hours between the end of the writing day and dinner when we can nap or continue to write. We all look forward to it so much and I always come back feeling replenished and inspired. So glad you had that time too x