How To Plan The Perfect Summer Self-Care Retreat

Do you feel worthy of having time for yourself? Do you feel uncomfortable taking time off or taking a few hours for yourself to focus on your self-care and overall well-being? In this article, “How To Plan The Perfect Summer Self-Care Retreat,” I share some of my tips for making the most out of your summer days and spending a little time taking care of yourself. This article is particularly dedicated to those working and stay-at-home moms who are always on the run and taking care of everyone but themselves. 

My Inspiration Behind Summer Self-Care Days

Earlier today I was working on updating my business plan and I started reflecting on how my self-care journey began, and it all started with “Me Day”- this is a special day each week during the summer that I took time off from work (usually Friday’s) to do something that brought me joy and relaxing. I went on day trips, and self-care treatments like getting a massage, taking myself to lunch, or going to a museum.

I was overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out during this time in my life. Although I was a “yes” girl many years ago, I hardly said no, because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. But enough was enough! I committed myself that I would change and create a designated time for self-care and self-reflection.

Keeping this commitment to myself was particularly hard because I had to advocate for myself and defend my boundaries with my bosses and co-workers. For example, I made it clear to my bosses and staff that I was unavailable on my days off. That means my phone would be off the whole day, and I will not return your call or text no matter what, so call the supervisor on duty. It took a while to train my staff and bosses, and many site manuals updates later, I had a well-oiled machine. 

Do you have to go to this extreme to make yourself a priority? Yes! I see so many women who bend their boundaries to accommodate their career, children, or spouse needs before their own. It might seem like a noble idea, but soon you will feel burnout and resentful. You absolutely deserve to be number one on your list, and the people in your inner circle who care about you should respect your boundaries. 

Schedule Time Off

Okay, this tip right here is half the battle! First, get time off to do an activity on your own. This is especially difficult for moms with the never-ending drop-off at summer activities this summer. There hardly seems to be time for yourself. Working in childcare for over thirteen years, I saw this same movie play out for countless working mothers who rushed from their day jobs to pick up little Timmy and Suzie only to pick up McDonald’s for dinner and race them off to their soccer practice.

Ladies, please hear me out on this. Before you sign your kiddos up for any activities, make sure you have a buffer of time for yourself. This may mean asking your boss if you could work from home one day a week, so you spend some time alone at home while the kids are at school or summer camp. Or ask your spouse if he could pick up the kids, and you can prepare dinner and take a few minutes to meditate or read a book before everyone comes home. Find creative ways to free yourself up to get some one-on-one time with yourself. 

Brainstorm Ideas 

Grab a journal and write down ten of your favorite or wishlist self-care activities. This can be anything your heart desires, so dream big! Some of my favorite summer self-care activities are: going to the beach solo, a spa day, having high tea, and going for a hike. Look on alltrails to find some great hikes in your area!

Create A Budget

Your next step is to figure out how much money you are willing to spend on yourself. Once you have your budget, then plan your self-care time accordingly. 

Research & Find Discounts

Can you save money by choosing a package that includes meals and treatments? Is there special concierge pricing that you could receive from a local hotel that you could explore?

A great example of this is when I went to Vegas last October. We decided to hit the concierge desk to see if they had any ideas for fun activities off the beaten path. They had many partnerships with local attractions and restaurants. We got a great price on the driver to take us sightseeing around town, ziplining at The Rio, and dinner reservations at Fuhu restaurant at the Conrad Hotel. Always ask!

Schedule Treatments & Activities In Advance

Research and schedule treatments and activities to ensure that your summer self-care day goes without a hitch. Nothing is worse than planning a day trip only to arrive and find that your favorite store is closed or the freeway you are taking is closed for repairs. If you plan, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration and disappointment.  

Get Creative

This is outside of the box this summer. Maybe you want to do a theme for each self-care day this summer, like a theme of adventure. You can plan fun activities and lessons you’ve always wanted to try, like rock climbing, pole dancing, a hot air balloon ride, or a mud bath. Challenge yourself to try something new this summer and test your limits. 

In closing, I wanted to remind you of a few parting words before the end of this article. Remember that you deserve to be a priority and that taking time for yourself is not selfish. Summer time is not only a time for the youth to have fun in the sun but for all of us to take time to slow down and enjoy the moment! If you want to read more of my articles, check out Must-Have Summer Skincare To Quench Your Thirsty Skin.