How to Have a Goal Setting Retreat at Home

A personal retreat is an excellent way to devote time specifically to goal setting.

Oftentimes, we leave any major goal setting for the end of the old/beginning of new year period, but setting goals, reviewing them and taking stock of our progress should be something that we strive to do on a regular basis.

We need to have a map of where we would like to go and work unceasingly towards reaching each and every milestone.

“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”

~ Jim Rohn

Thoughts of a retreat may conjure up images of jetting off to some remote island and spending time in a tropical resort surrounded by coconut trees, basking in fresh sea breezes and enjoying room service; but that is not a luxury many of us have at the moment.

Or perhaps you prefer the simplicity of a cabin in the woods, reminiscent of Thoreau’s Walden Pond.

There is no reason why you cannot have a beautiful soul-searching retreat at home.

Whether you want to set goals for your blog, business, an outline for your book, or even your health, fitness or spirituality, retreats are a great way to carve out time to put your ideas on paper and move forward with a plan.

Going on a personal retreat will enable you to:

Have focused time to brainstorm and decide what you really want to achieve
Deliberately remove the daily distractions such as email and social media
Connect with yourself.

Plan the day

First of all, you need to decide which day you will go on your retreat.

Ensure that this day will be as distraction-free as possible. Outside of your regular commitments such as taking care of little ones, the rest of this day is for you.

If you have little children and do not have anyone to take care of them for a few hours, plan ahead.

Plan meals, snacks, toys and activities or even a bit of screen time if allowed. Nap times also would be welcomed.

If you have a little baby, plan to keep a play mat, stroller, pushchair or bouncer nearby to change up the environment for him/her or you can do some baby-wearing.

If you do have the option of having someone care for your children on the day, then make arrangements to have a few hours to yourself.

Pre-determine how many hours you will devote to your retreat.

You want to have as little as possible to do on the day itself outside of your intended goal-setting activity.

Next, you will want to cook meals in advance, so have a list of the meals you will prepare and ensure that you have all the ingredients on hand, just in case you need to go to the grocery store.

Prepare for the day

A day or two before, cook all your meals and family meals for retreat day.

If you have daily chores such as laundry, watering plants or feeding pets, ask a family member to help you and offer to do something in return for them later on.

If not, and you have to attend to your chores on your own, schedule it in around your retreat, preferably before so that you won’t have it on your mind throughout the day.

Announce to your friends and family that you are taking a day for yourself. Telling them the purpose of the day is up to you.

The idea is to inform them that you will be unavailable for a few hours, or even the whole day if you choose, and only to contact you in case if emergency if need be.

Make arrangements with your spouse or anyone that you live with to allow you some time where you can have privacy and quiet (as much as possible).

Get your tools

If it suits your fancy, purchase some nice journals, colourful pens, post-it notes, stickers, or whatever you may want to help make your goal setting fun and enjoyable.

You can also use the Slay Your Goals Planner to guide your steps to successful goal setting and to help you find out what it is that you really want to achieve.

Set out the environment

Decide which area of your home will be dedicated to your activities for your retreat. It may be a cosy nook with a view to your garden, your bedroom, the living room sofa, the patio, the backyard, etc.

Make sure the area is clean, tidy and uncluttered. This kind of space will give you a positive environment which will contribute to a clearer mind.

Make the area as comfortable as possible. Depending on what you like you may decide to:

Light some scented candles (out of the reach of children) or use a diffuser with your favourite essential oils

Play soft ambient music in the background
Have some fresh flowers in your working space
Have a picture of your children or family (or other symbolism) within view to remind you of why you want to accomplish these goals

Have a schedule

Create a schedule for retreat day. Write it out.

Set aside working times as well as meal and break/refreshment times. If you have to factor in snack times for the kids or bath or nap times, then try to work it in as much as possible.

The night before, have your agenda/schedule ready, set out your clothes and give your space a once-over to ensure that you are prepared.

Go on your retreat

Wake up early to give yourself ample time to get ready for the day.

Have a shower, perhaps use that revitalizing body wash or exfoliating scrub you keep saving for special occasions.

Comb your hair, put on some makeup if you want to and dress in some nice but comfortable clothes.

Have your tea, coffee or juice break planned and if you are having some fruit or other light snacks, have them already portioned out and ready for your break.

Cross off any must do’s for the day in the first hour or two depending on your program. Have a healthy breakfast and organise yourself to start your goal setting retreat.

Turn off notifications on your devices to remove unnecessary distractions. You already let your people know that you would be away for a few hours and anyone else can leave you a voice message.

Then sit quietly by yourself, or with your kids in sight doing their activities, and start working on setting your goals.

During your breaks stretch, go outside for some fresh air, drink some water or have a cup of tea or coffee.

Reward yourself

At the end of the retreat, reward yourself for taking the time to do something that is important to you and your future – for yourself and your family.

The reward could be watching your favourite movie, buying yourself a book or a bouquet of flowers, making your favourite smoothie or just treating yourself to something that you love.