There’s no doubt that people’s mental health has suffered over the past two years, I’ve seen the repercussions as stress and anxiety levels have risen dramatically in my clients.
The pressures of everyday life saw a seismic increase as everyone dug deep and held themselves strong and steady for their family and loved ones, taking on additional pressure mentally and emotionally. Many pushed themselves too far as they felt they had no other choice in the circumstances. Unprecedented was a word used a lot, and that is also relevant for the strain on mental health, we’re still seeing the effects now with long wait times for referrals on the NHS. For many, each day was a juggling game as the demands on time and energy went through the roof and pressure continued to build. The energy women (in particular) expended on dealing with everything that the pandemic brought has been exponential. Now in the recovery phase, its a crucial time to evaluate what has been spent and take steps to gain some sense of mental and emotional balance.
3 things have stood out from the research I am collecting from across the UK. People have repeatedly told me they need time and space to unwind, to collect their thoughts, to relieve stress and anxiety and some peace and quiet.
One of the best ways to do this is to take a step out of the daily routine into an immersive environment where the only consideration is how to look after yourself that day. Where the sole purpose is self-care, relaxation and restoring energy levels. When the everyday stressors are removed, rest and relaxation is easier, the mind starts to clear naturally and energy levels return, new perspective is gained, and psychological well-being is improved dramatically. Reconnecting to nature as well as yourself can be crucial to reducing the primary stress hormone cortisol. Meeting like-minded individuals also adds another psychological advantage to any retreat, as innately social beings, supportive community environment is exactly what is needed right now.
Time and space for self-care enables transformation in people in ways they normally don’t experience as its difficult to find time to recharge in mental strength and energy whilst managing busy lives. However, retreats can feel indulgent. Most people tell me their barriers to coming on retreat are finding the time, family and childcare issues, getting time off work, feelings of guilt, feeling selfish, and its common to ask, ‘do I really need this?’ The answer is 100% yes… time for self-care is crucial for everyone. It’s not indulgent to look after yourself, in fact it’s essential for your overall mental health and wellbeing. A retreat experience can help someone regain a sense of themselves, clarity to understand what they might need, give them a chance to prioritise only themselves whilst allowing themselves to switch off from organising, planning, and taking care of everything. Mindfulness practices teach you how to take this new state of zen back with them into their everyday lives. In this type of environment, it really is possible to regain alignment in body mind and soul. It just takes that brave step to do something just for yourself. The unknown may just bring the greatest rewards. All it takes is that leap of faith and perhaps a bit of gut instinct to guide you.