Finally! You’re getting away from it all! Congratulations! Do you remember how to do that? Here are six reminders to bridge the gap between your state of busy-ness into deeper connection with your true core:
- Shhhh. Stop talking. Allow your tongue to rest at the roof of your mouth. That’s when your own energy circulates at its most efficient and you’re connected most deeply with your own core.
- Gaze into nature. Allow the hugeness of Mother Nature, Mama Gaia or whatever you call our home, the Earth, to override your stresses and tension. Take it in through all of your senses. See into the detail of the vastness of that beauty. Smell it. Feel it on your skin. You get the picture. Literally! Looking into the stars at night, how significant are the stresses you’re taking a break from anyway? Allow nature to support your ability to put it all into perspective. It’ll be there for you if you still want it when you return home or return to work. But more likely you’ll return from your break with a refreshed sense of priorities. Empower yourself to make choices that inform your ability to remain more connected to your own core.
- Bury your feet in the sand or walk barefoot in the grass, weather-permitting. If your preference is a ski retreat, skip that part. I won’t pretend to be able to relate to enjoying winter sports or cold weather! Back to the sand, though — sand is comprised of tiny crystal particles that cleanse as well as rejuvenate your energy. Snow? Not so much…. Going barefoot connects your feet to the earth, literally. I’ve noticed a new term circulating: “earthing.” Where I’m from, we simply call it going barefoot. Either way, back to basics. That’s the whole point of getting away from the self-inflicted chaos, is it not?
- Listen to nature sounds. Even if you’re in a landlocked location wherein the nature sounds available are those of leaves rustling in the trees, listen. If the current temperature in your geographic area is equivalent to a shoe size, instead of a comfortable outdoor experience, use one of the many recordings available. Real nature holds more potency, of course, but if you’ve taken the time to take the time, at least invest some time to get out of the monkey mind. Babbling brooks, ocean waves, bird sounds all serve well in washing away the tensions created by adhering to modern day responsibilities. During your retreat or staycation, make sure to listen to something other than a ringing phone.
- Speaking of which — unplug! For real! No phone, computer, or any of the assorted forms of tiny technology that allegedly make life so much more convenient. What’s so convenient about being accessible 24/7? Are you an astronaut in flight or a neurosurgeon on call? No? Then there’s nothing that can’t wait for your return. Let it go — you’re worth it. Allow yourself that down time. Leave all that at home, and if you’re staycationing (yes, that’s a new verb now) at home, simply turn the power switches off and even cover those tools up if you need to. They’ll be there when you’ve rejuvenated.
- On a slightly different physical note, chew slowly. Enjoy the taste of your food. So often there’s a tendency to just inhale into the body whatever’s closest or easiest to consume. That’s not nurturing your well-being and often isn’t even sustenance for your body, but rather a dissatisfying form of triage that leaves you unsatisfied, not to mention unaware of what you even just ate. Pay attention and savor what’s going on in your mouth. For those who prioritize enjoyment during retreats, take that any way you want to.
