My original plan was to offer weekend retreats even though someone suggested that midweek was the way to go.
I wasn’t convinced at first but gradually the idea grew on me, and the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was the better option.
And then I found the perfect venue which was available at the right time, just after my newest grandchild was due and just before Leah sets off to climb a mountain (literally!) and it just kind of fell into place.
So here we are, with our midweek retreat happening soon.
It falls right after the clocks go back, as we are starting to get used to the changes in daylight hours; right after half term so the kids (if you have them) are back at school; just after all the fireworks have ended; and enough in advance of Christmas that you won’t yet be swamped with festive planning…
What could be better than a mid-week retreat followed by a weekend back at home for you to absorb all the things you experienced while you were away, and take a bit more time before you have to get back to your usual routine?
And what could be worse than a full week doing what you usually do, followed by a dash to get to your retreat, and a dash back home on Sunday evening, ready to start right back into your usual routine again??
There is something very powerful about deciding that you deserve to take time away from your usual schedule, and I think women perhaps are not quite so good at doing it as men are!
Whatever you do with your day-to-day life, you deserve a break in the middle of your week.
It doesn’t matter whether you work in the home or outside the home; whether you have a part-time job or work 60 hours a week; whether you have kids at home or not. Regardless of how you spend your week, you no doubt invest much of your energy in supporting others, in one way or another, and it is just as important to invest time in yourself.
You deserve this time to reconnect with who you are when you get the chance to step away from all your responsibilities.
Of course it might take a bit more work to arrange time-off mid-week, and it might require a little bit more juggling or calling in a few favours, but I guarantee the benefits will be more than worth a little bit of shuffling beforehand.
You will be amazed at how good it feels to really put yourself at the top of your mid-week to-do list.
Jx