When life gets tough or you get stressed the idea of going on a retreat can seem like heaven. You may wish you could spend the day or a week in a spa or health retreat but that is not always possible in the ‘real world’. You may not be able to afford the time or expense to visit a health retreat but you can give yourself a mini retreat experience at home. It can be as short as an hour or two or as long as a day or weekend.
Below are some ideas to give yourself time out and nourish yourself so that you can come back refreshed, more productive and better able to cope with the ‘real world’.
Begin the day with a glass of water with the juice of a lemon added to begin detoxing your body and then go for a brisk walk, run, swim or other exercise you enjoy. This could be made into a family activity and could be as short as 15 or 30 minutes. Eat a healthy breakfast on your return.
Take time to read something enjoyable, meditate, walk on the grass barefoot, listen to music or other activity that you find relaxing. You may choose to do it outdoors but if indoors you can vaporise some relaxing essential oils such as lavender, geranium, bergamot, marjoram or uplifting oils like lemon, sweet orange, mandarin, lime or grapefruit. You can place about 6 drops in a diffuser to perfume the air.
Have a bath with 4-6 drops of essential oil added to the warm water and swished about with some soothing music playing in the background followed by a massage can be very relaxing. Add the essential oils to half a cup of full fat milk before adding to the bath so the oils will disperse through the bath water. Perhaps apply a face mask while you’re enjoying your bath.
Apply a scrub to your skin and wash off in the shower followed by some moisturising lotion or oil to which you have added your favourite essential oil blend.
The following recipe from the Essential Living ebook is an easy to make scrub –
60mls salt, 30mls jojoba oil, 5 drops grapefruit essential oil and 10 drops frankincense essential oil. Combine the salt and jojoba directly in a 120ml PET plastic jar. Add the drops of essential oils and stir vigorously with a spoon. Use a small handful while you’re the shower or bath to scrub away dead skin and soothe muscle aches. Avoid use on the face. Rinse well. The lingering layer of jojoba will provide long lasting moisture.
Have a massage or if there is no one nearby give yourself a neck, shoulder, arm, hand or foot massage. One recipe you can try is lavender 3 drops, geranium 2 drops in 10 mls cold pressed vegetable oil or if you don’t like lavender try Australian sandalwood 2 drops and grapefruit 3 drops.
Go on a picnic either at home or to your favourite spot. Have lunch or brunch with friends. Do something creative like drawing, making jewellery, writing poetry, journaling, making a video or whatever gets your creative juices flowing.
It doesn’t really matter what you do as long as you take time out of your daily routine to have fun and nourish yourself physically, mentally and emotionally so you can reduce the stress in your life and feel happy to be part of the ‘real world’. Make these mini retreats a regular part of your life.