Planning a Rejuvenating Retreat at Home | #15

NOTE: This podcast was transcribed by an AI tool. Please forgive any typos or errors. Planning a rejuvenating retreat at home === Cara: [00:00:00] Hi, welcome to the show I wanted to. Talk on this episode about this concept I came up with during lockdown and COVID. It is. The Floductivity, retreat guide. And I know in 2020 life change for many people, and for me, it was staying home when I was used to going to work every day. And I had this urge to escape to a spa. And I just knew that wasn't in my near future. So it create these 24 hour periods where I was relieved of household duties. The kids. To just give myself the time and energy to reset. Sometimes I wanted to work like crazy and other times I just wanted arrest. And I found if I planned with my cyclical nature, I had this unmistakable power behind the time I spent. Every time I planned a retreat day. It never looked the same as another. So in this episode, I am going to break down. Just how to get started and. The important aspects of taking 24 hours and what it takes to yourself and those around you so i hope you [00:01:00] enjoy this episode and i can't wait to get started INTRO: Welcome to floductivity, a place to inspire and empower women to embrace self-love and self-development for the perfect balance of productivity. I'm your host, Cara Dempsey. And I share ways to connect to your intuition through self care cycle planning, spirituality, wellness, and everything in between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. If this is your first time. Welcome. And if you've been with me here before, thank you so much for coming back. I'm so excited to join you in this journey. As we learn together. Cara: I have something exciting to share with you guys. Save the date for July 30th at 1:00 PM. Eastern standard time. I've been asked to be a part of the grounded dreamers mystical fair. It's a half-day virtual retreat that transports you to a soul [00:02:00] inspiring and loving space. It is your opportunity to receive guidance from a diverse group of Lightworkers and healers who are prepared to provide you and guide you with their expertise and healing energies. What makes it extra special is you get to choose who you spend and share space with in a group or private setting. Right now I have some offerings around human design and using our cycle for work and home life. If you want more information, check out the show notes or visit caradempsey.com/gdmf see you there. This whole creation of the Floductivity retreat came to light. When I saw the power in tracking my cycle and utilizing The optimal times of the day. It became the highest form of self care for my body. When I gave my mind body and soul, the carrot needed. In that season. There are times when I nourish my body with the power of a season. And self-care is my goal. And there are times when productivity comes shining through. The more you practice, the more powerful this practice comes. Let the power of your [00:03:00] intuition lead you, where it feels best. While giving your body. Nourishment it deserves. I hope it inspires you to plan around your cyclical nature and the everyday life. Let's celebrate that you made this commitment. To listen to this episode. Around nourishing your body. And I do think this is a powerful practice that you don't need to experience a cycle to get the benefits from. It's ultimately figuring out how to connect with your intuition so that you are fully paying attention to your mind, body and soul. So that you come out. The other end, rejuvenated, refreshed, and inspired to do more. This episode will help women. Understand the different. Aspects of a cycle, but again, you can apply it to the seasons of the year. You can apply it to a moon cycle. The goal is for you to understand what feels best for you. And the only person who can decide that is yourself. This retreat is meant to grow your self-love and your self investment account. Each activity earns a check, but the only [00:04:00] way to get that check deposited is if you sign the check. The only way the check gets signed is if you fully embody the activities you choose to do. Doing the activities to check them off the list does not serve you in any way and will not grow your account to feel worthy. The self-love and self investment account will be an investment into your creativity, your productivity. Your emotional wellbeing and total devotion to your mind, body and soul. Remember that even if an activity did not turn out the way you wanted, it could still be a lesson for the next time you take this time for yourself. . I've created some guidelines for myself when I create these days. And again, take what resonates, leave what doesn't, but the goal is to do things that are for your wellbeing. So while some things feel good in the moment, like scrolling on social media. Bingeing on TV. Eating the fried food. It doesn't leave you feeling nourished and rejuvenated. At the end of it. And also remember to add anything that will help you utilize your retreat to its maximum potential. [00:05:00] This is yours for the making. So there's some. Really important aspects. That again, I feel are important, but take what you need. In this moment. So the first part is the most important part. You need to have a conversation with the people that this day is going to affect. Make sure they know that you need this time to reset. And that you won't be available to think about anything, to plan anything, to cook, anything, to clean, anything. Setting that boundary is the hardest, but the most important part of this. While I did this retreat. It was in our house. So finding the area that I would be undisturbed was very important. So I would have the conversation to say during this time I'm going to be upstairs. So can you be downstairs? If you're going to be upstairs, I'm going to be outside. If I have to lock myself in the bathroom, then I would lock myself in the bathroom. To be in a space where I knew that someone wasn't going to open the door while I was meditating while I was doing yoga, whatever I was doing in that moment, I had to make sure. To communicate. My [00:06:00] expectations. So that is the first and most important. It's hard. And sometimes it takes practice. The first time I did this compared to now, it's a totally different story. So. Just know that there will be times that you will probably get interrupted, but just know that when you talk it out and have the conversations. About how it affected you. Everybody will know, moving forward. How to adjust to this time that you're asking for. Another important aspect for me was to keep my phone away. That way I didn't pick it up out of habit. I think a lot of us, when we have a few moments, our first reaction is to pick up our phone scroll. Check here. Check there. And so. I make it a point to keep my phone away. Have it on, do not disturb. So that phone calls, text messages. Aren't going to bother me in that time. Another part that I think is important for myself is to avoid alcohol junk food and media. Sometimes I will use my phone or my iPad because I am [00:07:00] doing stuff for work or productivity. But keep in mind, any sort of media. Things that you watch things that kind of have that mindless activity, try and avoid that because we're trying to nourish herself. We're trying not to. Grab for those things that help. Numb our mind, body and soul. So here's some tips to help me keep my retreat on track. Do what feels good as long as it's healthy for you? If you make a mistake, acknowledge and try again. No housework, unless it really brings you joy. Don't watch the clock. This one's a hard one. Don't watch the clock. It's like you plan for the day. To help you be able to go through the day with ease. But the goal is to listen to your body and check in regularly to see what feels good to you. I try to have my retreat planned out prior. So that way, when I have a moment, I can look and say, Ooh, I want to do this meditation. It's written down. I know where to find it instead of. Kind of wasting the time, trying to find the things that you want to do. That way you can go get right [00:08:00] to those things that bring you joy. So I use the planner as a menu. Not an itinerary. So while it's broken down in time periods, To help give you an idea of when you should do certain tasks. Please don't take the time. As a requirement. Cara: An important part for me is to have healthy food planned out ahead of time. I try to prep everything. That way I'm left with good choices, because I know when I get past the point of hunger, I grabbed for things that ultimately aren't good for me. If you decide. This day is a full devotion to self care. Then I suggest using the joy scale from one to 10. If it brings you a seven or above on the scale, then keep doing the activity. If it's under a seven, then I would suggest moving onto another activity. If you decide this day is to be productive, that understanding. That checking in often is very important. There are times where working is. Okay. But there is also times that you should focus on your wellbeing. And the great thing about this [00:09:00] is you can have both self care and productivity in your retreat. Just be open to what may come forth and not solid in what you've planned. Allow a chance to pivot. If something leads you to something else. You never know when inspiration will strike. I've used this concept for self care. I've used this concept to be very purposeful in my business tasks and I've made it a mix of both. I found what I plan accordingly to the phase of my cycle that I'm experiencing. I feel very purposeful in my intentions. I've taken this concept and plan my very own retreat at a bed and breakfast. For a solo trip. And I also have a trip coming up with a friend around this concept. The goal in this time is to honor what feels good to you? I like to plan ahead maybe a couple of days so that when the time alone comes, I have the ideas ready for me. I don't get free time, fully uninterrupted very often. So I don't want to be left, searching or planning when it's actually time to focus on myself. It allows me to be able to shut down. Focus inward and the [00:10:00] moment. And I think that's a very important part of a day. Like this is to be able to connect to the moment. And not thinking ahead or being in our head the whole day. If you had to the show notes, I will have a free itinerary printable. So you can plan your Floductivity 24 hour retreat. You can also visit Caradempsey.com/15 to download your free copy so that you can get to planning your own retreat. If you have the opportunity to leave your house with this concept, it is beyond powerful. But the goal in making this was to give something to women so that they don't have to leave their house. They don't have to spend the day at the spa. They don't have to spend thousands of dollars on a retreat for rejuvenating experience. I want something that is available for women to do on a regular basis. So they avoid overwhelm. So that they avoid getting burnt out. So they have the opportunity to get in touch with their needs and how to nourish their own body. So that life doesn't feel overwhelming. my goal is to help women be able to live [00:11:00] a life of purpose and ease and be the best versions of themselves. For their own wellbeing. And for those around them, So here are some things that are always encouraged, no matter what the phase you're in. So they might not be specifically in each phase that I talk about, but no, all these things are great for you. No matter what. You're experiencing in the moment. Having some sort of prayer or meditation allows you to get in your body and out of your head. I like to journal or reflect that way. You can honor your feelings and understand how certain situations have impacted you and how you can maybe. Shift directions going forward. Setting intentions as a powerful practice to say. I'm starting this retreat doing X, Y, and Z. And tensions are so powerful to help you. Embody what you're doing. I also encourage anyone to find a creative outlet, whether it's painting. Drawing singing, dancing. Woodworking. Whatever that creative outlet for you is. [00:12:00] Try to add that more into your weekly or monthly life. It just will help you connect with yourself. Also finding the self-care practices that really help nourish you. I like a bath, a face mask. massage, whether you do it yourself or you pay someone. So just finding those reoccurring things that really help. You connect with yourself is important. Create a toolkit that you can go to whenever you feel like you need to come back in with yourself. If you haven't yet, I would go ahead and head to Cara dempsey.com/fifteen to print off your retreat planner. So you can plan along with me. Looking at them, you can see one is blank for you to fill out. And the other one has a generalized idea of planning a retreat. If you are wanting to know more about the seasons. Of the cycle. Then I recommend going to Cara dempsey.com/cycle, and I have free principles about planning for productivity. But in that. Printable [00:13:00] his little flashcards. So you can get to know your cycle a little better. So I'm going to walk through the generalized idea and I'll tell you some things that you can kind of add in there, depending on where you're at in your cycle. And again, you do not need a cycle to do this. You can use it with the season of the year that you're experiencing, and you can also relay it into the moon cycle as well. Honestly, it doesn't have to be so specific. Keep it generalize. The whole goal in this state is to completely nourish your mind, body, and soul. So do what feels best for you? Re-record below — Cara: If you're looking at the. Itinerary planner. You can see that the time blocks are broken off into four different sections. 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM. 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 6:00 PM. To 10:00 PM. I find I work better with four hour increments. Whether I'm working, resting, whatever, maybe. And so what I like to do around that time shift, so say around 10:00 AM. Again, we're not keeping track of the clock, but just being able to [00:14:00] check in, see what feels good. So we're always going to start the day off with a meditation. Uh, prayer, something to give gratitude for the day for waking up. And just allowing you to tap into your body and getting out of your mind. And I like to do that first thing in the morning. From there. I like to set my intentions for the day. So if I am using my cycle, Using those intentions to be able to give a guidepost of where my day is going to go. Next. We're going to do a nice, healthy breakfast. I always like to start my day off with protein. I feel like it gives me more energy through the day. And not engaging in any unhealthy foods. Cause anytime I go for those in the morning, I just feel like they. Don't give me the energy that I need to have a productive day. If you are. Experiencing summer, I would recommend doing your workout before you eat breakfast. But the rest of the seasons. Breakfast. Would be the next thing. If you were in summer, you would do the summer workout and then you [00:15:00] would go to breakfast. The next thing that you would do in that 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM timeframe is to. Take those intentions that you set and start. With that. So for example, if you're in your spring, you would want to strategize or plan. Problem solve. If you're in your summer, you want to expand, receive. If you're going into fall, you want to focus and organize. And if you're in winter, that is when you would want to evaluate review and let go. So next we're going to go to the 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM timeframe. And you're going to do more of those intentions that you set for the majority of the seasons. If you're in spring, you know, think about new projects, work on those new things that are sparking you. If you're in summer, great time to set goals. If you're in fall. You might want to consider doing a workout before you do that. This is a good time for workout. And if you're in winter, that's when you want to plan a course of action. Again, the majority of the seasons, you're going to [00:16:00] have a large lunch, try to make this your main meal of the day. Really pack in the nutrients and the food. That's going to keep you going throughout the day. If you are in your summer phase, this is maybe a great time to go out to lunch with friends. Show up, be seen if you need to record content, this is a great time to do it, especially because it's in the daylight. After you have your lunch. I suggest spending some time in nature. All seasons. This is recommended. Nature is a great way to help. Kind of reset. Get grounded. If you're in your fall phase, this maybe would be a great time to do some details and wrap up projects because you haven't really gotten into doing. Your work, ultimately at this time. So, yeah, after lunch might be a good time in fall to do the details and wrap up your projects. After spending time in nature. In the spring time. You'll still want to do that workout in that 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM timeframe. Jumping into the fall. And the winter. During this [00:17:00] timeframe might be a great time to do some embodiment. We're going to move on to the 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Timeframe. If you're in your spring, this is a great time to socialize. And your summer, this is a really good time to get creative. Same with the fall. And the winter. And then wrapping back to spring. After you do your socializing, then it's a really good time to get creative. And remember, these are just generalized ideas for you throughout the day. So plug and play where it feels good to you. Next step on the list is self investment. And what I like to call self investment is just putting investment back into yourself. Whether it's courses, podcasts. Reading, anything too. Give yourself some sort of expansion. That's ultimately what I find in self investment. So that is again, across the board, a highly suggested. Activity, no matter what phase you're in it is. All phases. It's definitely suggested. If you're in your spring phase, then you can maybe do [00:18:00] some embodiment since you didn't have the chance yet. Same with summer. Think about doing some sort of journaling reflection. And also doing embodiment in this 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Timeframe. Going into fall. This would also be a great time for a fall workout more if you're in the second part of your fall. And make sure you celebrate yourself during this time. Fall is a great time to celebrate what you've done, where you've come from. Celebrate yourself is a great thing to do when you're in your fall, celebrate how far you've come, what you've been doing, and that you're spending this time really celebrating yourself in all the phases. A great idea, but it's highly suggested in the fall phase. In the winter time, the 2:00 PM. 6:00 PM. You know, think about journaling reflection is a huge thing when you're in your winter. Do that embodiment, but make sure it's on the restful side, get in your body, but try not to overdo it. You know, a nice little bit of dancing, some stretching, just even walking in nature and [00:19:00] making sure you're resting in this time, especially during your winter. Now we're going to jump to the last section, the 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. All of the phases, an earlier dinner is a great suggestion. So starting that time period off with dinner. If you're in spring, this is a great time for some self-love think about those self care things that you love to do, whether it's. Taking a bath. Moving your body. Just. Giving yourself love in any way that is nourishing for you. If you're in your summer phase, having some sort of connection after dinner, whether you're zoom calling, having dinner with friends in person, your summer is really meant to collaborate and be with other people. So if you can find that sometime in that day, Um, go for it. This is the time to do it. If you're in your fall, same idea. You're want to do dinner. Self-love. And if you're in your winter, doing a little workout after dinner is good for your digestion. Keep it light. Maybe foam rolling, stretching, [00:20:00] some light yoga. I try not to push yourself too much. Another rule that I have is no electronics after 8:00 PM in all phases that I'm experiencing. It's a hard rule for me, because I just know that that is when I tend to scroll. And engage in things that aren't ideally. In my highest good. And I really want to end this day on a high note and not get mad because I stayed up too late. Benji Netflix. If you're in your spring. You know, think about meditating, praying again, gratitude for the day. And do some journal and reflecting to end the day. Same with summer. Find that time for self-love. I like to end my night. With some sort of meditation, some prayer. No matter what phase I'm in, just giving space for the time that I've given myself. A great time to journal and reflect is. In your. Fall and your winter. So try to incorporate that in the end of the day. And that's kind of the end of it is just giving yourself a general [00:21:00] outline of how you would want to give yourself 24 hours to rejuvenate. And, you know, no day's ever the same. It's just giving yourself. Your mind, body and soul, the attention that it needs for 24 hours in a row. I feel like, especially as a mom, my. Time is so broken up. I never really have those moments to focus on myself without getting interrupted. And since I've incorporated these 24 hour periods of time to be able to focus on myself, I am so much more able to listen to my body and do the things that nourish myself. So I can be a better mom. I can be a better wife. I can have the energy to work on my business. I understand what my body's telling me. It's like giving your body the time and energy to communicate with you is huge. In conclusion, my goal is to encourage women to set boundaries, to take uninterrupted time, to focus on themselves. I found it to be my sanity when we were locked in our house. Something I've learned. Is [00:22:00] that for me to be the best mom and wife alone time is absolutely necessary for me to recharge. My husband's has seen what it can do for me. And. It gives me this time because he sees firsthand the difference that it makes. My goal is to actually have all retreats around this concept because I know it will change lives. Once you see how powerful devoting time to your full well-being is on a regular basis. It will allow you to integrate these small micro habits for a life of more purpose and ease. If you want to take this concept and build your own. I have a retreat planner that breaks down every phase on Etsy for sale. So check the show notes. I'm also hoping to move it over to my website and have more offerings around this concept. If you think doing a community workshop around this concept would be something you'd be of interest. I would love if you email me, leave a review about it. And I encourage you to sign up for my weekly newsletter for when, and if there is something of the sort, you'll be the first to [00:23:00] know. So again, visit caradempsey.com/15 Thank you so much for joining me this week. If this was your first time. Welcome. And if you joined me for previous episodes, thank you for coming back before you go, make sure you share my podcast with a friend or subscribe. If you haven't yet. Those few seconds make a big impact on my podcast. And I would be grateful for the support. Check out the show notes for links mentioned in today's episode of physic caradempsey.com/15 that's where you'll find the free retreat principle. And I've also created a free resource to help you plan your work and home life with your cycle in minds. Remember it doesn't have to be a huge life change, but doing a little bit each day could make your life have more ease. You can find this caradempsey.com/cycle or in the show notes. Thanks for joining me and we'll chat soon