When was the last time you retreated from your business?
Does the very thought make you panic?
Does it make you go, “Ugh, no way, never, nope, it’s just not possible!”
Yeah, I think we all are like that… which tells me something, it is more important then ever to get this into your routine.
Let’s take a closer look at the word retreat.
Here are a few definitions worth considering.
- A place of privacy or safety
- An act or process of withdrawing especially from what is difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable
- Safe haven, place of rest
Now that doesn’t sound so terrible right? When we are practically shouted at in our email inbox or in the media to “Go, Go, Go!”, the thought of retreating seems wrong. But, then again, in our go-full-speed ahead culture, a safe haven sounds kind of nice.
In future posts we will dive deeper into this idea of retreating as part of your business plan and part of a regular routine in your schedule, but for now, I would like to look at ways you can retreat right now without taking a ton of time away from your business.
A safe haven for me is to get out of my head, do something different and most importantly get off the computer and get outdoors. It could be a hike, taking the dog for a walk, cleaning the house, building a fence…
Okay so that last one may sound odd. A short while ago I went out and worked on a new corral fence for some horses. Now, I’m not a fence builder, at all, have no clue how to go about it but I’m a great at handing over tools, holding wire and measuring when needed.
It had a been a long, long week and the brain was not firing all cylinders. But getting outside in the fresh air, getting muddy, moving, doing something constructive with my hands, that did not involve a keyboard, was almost like magic. The next day I felt sooo much better. I slept better then I had in awhile, had a clearer head and felt like I had accomplished something tangible. What a great feeling!
This got me thinking… (see what a clear head can do?)
Redefining the meaning of retreat.
Maybe it is time to redefine my idea of what a retreat is? While I firmly believe that getting away is essential, there are times when a couple hours of disconnecting from the computer and technology, moving and breathing deep is a safe haven we all can find.
So here is my challenge to you, find an hour or 2 this week to get out of your routine, do something different and retreat to your safe haven.
What will you do this week to retreat?
Photo Credit: stock.xchng @gul791
