2638: Planning a Mom Retreat (For Work, Rest and Play) by Shawna Scafe of Simple on Purpose on Motherhood Advice

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[00:01:00] This is Optimal Relationships Daily, Planning a Mom Retreat, for Work, Rest & Play, by Shauna Scaife of simpleonpurpose.ca. I'm writing to you from a hotel room, where I've stayed for two nights, typing away, soaking in the tub, and eating cheese. I sent myself away for a couple of nights so that I could focus on my online work, and also to just plain old recharge.

[00:01:25] On the first night, my bestie came with me and we had a nice dinner, and then sat down at our computers and took care of business. For me, I'm working on a special project I normally don't have time for in my current work-from-home life. For her, she's scheduling appointments and researching things that have come up in her life, and getting things done that she normally doesn't have time for in her life. We took the time to get done some of the office hours things that seem to be put on the back burner so often. And yes, I do think moms need office hours.

[00:01:55] No matter what tasks have piled up on the back burner for you, it can be tough to make the time. That's why I love to include them in my work weekends or mom retreats. Because this time is uninterrupted, it is not hijacked by my other errands, and it does not feel rushed, which I often feel at home. But it isn't all about work. It's also about making the time for you. Blocking time out for you.

[00:02:23] The bigger issue here for moms is the idea of having time. A time that you will get to fill however you wish, without demands from anyone else. A time to unplug and slow down. This is a time to rest and play and do things that you haven't made part of your life in a long time. Let's just take a minute and observe how it feels when we know we will have time away. Time blocked or just for us.

[00:02:47] When you have this time booked away, whether it's an hour a week, or a night away every six months or whatever, your mental state will be so much more relaxed. Because you know there will be time to do your errands, you can let the to-dos pile up on a list without the mental burden that you aren't working on them. Because you know there will be time to be indulgent with your own needs and wants. Having time blocked off for you allows you to show up and have fun with whatever is happening in your day,

[00:03:14] because you know that time is coming for you to do what you need to do. Planning a mom's getaway every year or every six months is making a statement on your calendar that there is time for you. Because nobody is going to just hand you the time. You need to make it for yourself. Planning the retreat. Book it. I know a retreat isn't an option for everyone, but I would encourage you to think about creative ways to make it work. Perhaps a babysitting swap with another mom friend.

[00:03:43] To save money on a place, you could time it around someone being out of town and go crash their house, with their permission of course. You could rent a cheap Airbnb. You could go halfers with a friend on a hotel discount. You could use your save on more points to book a hotel. For me, I knew I wanted a place where I would feel comfortable sitting and writing on my computer for many, many hours. I was drawn to this Okanagan resort because it looked so peaceful, had the lake right there, and the hot tub was open.

[00:04:11] I had done many work retreats in the past and also knew I wanted a simple kitchenette and a space that felt calming and beautiful. I was very happy with this place. Prioritize your to-do list. You want to be intentional with this time away. So, give yourself a framework of what you want to do. Start to make a list of things you want to get done. Keep it handy so you can keep adding to it. Before you go, take a second and highlight the top three things.

[00:04:37] If you're like me, your list will be too long, and if you don't prioritize, you'll feel unproductive at the end. Remember, you want to balance relaxing with getting stuff done. So, make sure downtime gets priority too. Pack all your goodies. Then, pack up a bunch of delicious food and all the stuff you want to fill your time with. Here are some fun things to pack. Face masks. More than one, why not? Books you have half read. A devotional or workbook you want to work through.

[00:05:06] Cozy socks and all the lounge wear. An iPad full of great 90's R&B. Laptop or computer if you're doing some work. A photo collection you want to finally organize, hard copy or digital. Webinars or audiobooks of things you want to learn. Knitting, sketching, whatever hobby has been on the back shelf. Your calendars and notebooks so you can take care of your admin stuff. Cards or board games to play if you're with a friend.

[00:05:34] Running shoes to take a midday walk. The life on purpose workbook if you're ready to set some vision and goals for yourself. Yoga mat to wake up and do a sun salutation without being a jungle gym for toddlers. And snacks. Hit up your favorite store for all the dips and chips and cheeses. Sign off from duty. Then, tell your family that you are off duty and we'll FaceTime them to say goodnight. See you later. Bye bye. Then go off and enjoy.

[00:06:02] Unplug from all the demands and focus on some top things to get done and some ways that you can recharge. Make the most out of your accommodations. Wherever you're staying, check out the local parks. The walking trails, the activities, the spas. Even something as simple as a nice soaker tub with hot coffee in the morning is a perk. Take time to enjoy the facilities wherever you are. Come home. The goal is to come home feeling recharged and ready to get back into things.

[00:06:32] Hopefully without so many to-dos and errands hanging over your brain. Plan the next one. While you're still feeling the afterglow of sleep and rest and play, book yourself in for your next one. These retreats have become part of my personal life and my work life over the years, and I don't see that changing. I hope to do a retreat a couple of times a year. They might look different over time in terms of where I stay and the people I go with.

[00:06:55] Either way, knowing that time is there for me is so helpful for me to keep with the daily grind of my work life and mom life. So mamas, start with an afternoon, work up to a night away, then up to two nights away. Just get started planning a getaway for you to have your own time to work, rest, and play.

[00:07:19] You just listened to the post titled, Planning a Mom Retreat for Work, Rest, and Play by Shauna Scaife of simpleonpurpose.ca. And thank you so much to Shauna for this one. Really an important article which speaks not only to moms but to all of us. And, you know, I might supplement it by reminding you that this type of retreat is about what you need most, which is not necessarily a balancing act of work, stress, and play.

[00:07:47] Some might find it stressful to fit all of them into one retreat. If that's you, just remember that this retreat can have a more singular focus. Maybe it's all play, all rest, all work, or something else. I guess ultimately what I'm getting at is that because these retreats can feel like such great recharges, yet difficult to make time for, it's easy to pressure ourselves to make them so amazing, so planned, so unforgettable.

[00:08:14] And this pressure can take away from the true purpose of the retreat. So remember above all that these retreats are about a lack of restrictions, you know, within reason. If planning every minute for you is fun, then do it. But if it's stressful, trust that you're not missing anything on this retreat by choosing not to keep it so organized. Make the focal point about saying yes to you and your instincts, rather than orchestrating something that seems great,

[00:08:42] but inevitably comes with some undue stress just to keep it all together. It's definitely an art form, but you can do it. Okay, and that's it for this one, friends. I thank you for being here. Another parenting post in the books. If you find yourself with an extra 10 minutes, come on back and listen to us tomorrow and Sunday. Where your optimal life awaits. The style is a great forced to keep it. He put it on top of the block and there's a great idea. Thank you.