10 Tips for Your Best Solo Getaway Ever
I’m writing this on the heels of my own (and first) solo getaway to We Care Spa. I wrote about it all, shared it here. But then I thought, wait a minute, there’s more to share. Side notes, things in the margin, little tips and tricks that I unintentionally discovered along the way. Important stuff that can help you maximize the oh-so-precious-time you have on a solo journey. Because if you’re gonna go, you might as well do it Right. This post is my attempt to fill in the gaps, give you the stuff behind the scenes. The things you can only know once the trip is in the rearview mirror.
When I do something new or for the first time, I like to dig in. How can I take this trip, hobby, food, learning experience, business, role, position to the next level? Not okay, not average. Amazing. Transformative. Impactful. The thing is, most learning happens through the experience itself. The act of doing the workout, cooking the food, traveling to the place, raising the kids, speaking the language. It happens in the thing. The ultimate example that comes to mind: Birth. No way you can explain it until you know it through experience.
It happens in trying, misfiring, adjusting, firing again, adjusting again. No amount of preparing replaces The Doing. That’s the tops. I don’t get overwhelmed in research, but I talk to people who have done/are doing the thing. I read about it. The internet and access to virtually anything/anyone makes this accessible in a no-excuses-not-to-do-it kinda way. Be mindful of your sources and always remember that much is anecdotal. Opinion. Subjective. Absorb it, but take what resonates with you and leave the rest.
My goal was to Recharge + Reset. To take a break from my normal responsibilities and routine. And I wanted to learn stuff: how can I optimize the way I’m living? how can I be the best version of myself mentally, physically, emotionally? Sustain the energy, mental clarity, motivation and excitement for life that I want in an enduring way?
I went into it all empty vessel-like. Totally vulnerable to a new experience, a blank slate, ready to soak in all I could and completely surrender to the experience of recharging my batteries. This mental frame helped me squeeze the most I could out of the 5 day experience. And squeeze I did.
This is specific to my We Care Spa experience, but absolutely translatable to work wherever you might be going for your Reset. You are going, right?!
Do the Pre-Fast: shop for/order/get/prepare all the things you need. Set yourself up for success by starting at home, 3-4 days before your departure. For a We Care experience you’ll need: organic olive oil, organic prune juice, herbal laxative teas and/or supplements, stock your fridge with easy, grab-n-go green juices, put fresh fruit on your counter. Have salad fixings in the refrigerator washed, chopped, roasted, ready to go. Bonus points for removing your usual triggers from the house (just for now). I love potato chips (salt + vinegar are my fave) and some sort of sweet to end the day (Hu Kitchen dark chocolate + Buccan chocolate chip cookies are on permanent rotation). I happily include these things in my life, but just for a few days challenge yourself to hijack your normal habits and see how you feel. Switch to decaf, nix the matcha, cork the wine. Zoom out, think big picture. This is not to torture you. This is to HEAL you.
*You can still do a version of this no matter where you are going. I was heading into a fasting/liquid nutrition experience so it was more extreme, but you can choose to eat clean, add in more veggies + juices and cut the booze prior to your trip. Even a little physical cleanse gives you more energy, mental clarity and lightness - all things that will serve you when looking to recharge.
Go with an Intention: Or a mini-project. A focus. What’s the One Thing you want to do/have/become/accomplish while you are away? Mine was to Rest. Allowable tools I used to accomplish this: reading, writing, sleeping, yoga, meditation. So my litmus test for every decision I made while there was “will this provide me with true rest?” If it was if-y, it was a No. Things like making the babysitter schedule for next month, paying bills, working on ongoing house projects, even calling friends/family and talking everyday with kids & hubby - they were all out. A No. They didn’t 100% pass the test. The time is short, my friends. Every moment has to count towards your intention. Guard it.
DIY Room Spa: One of the best things I did was to bring a spa in my suitcase. A dry brush, lymphatic drainage paddle, face masks, foot file/rich cream/fuzzy warm socks, body exfoliator, face exfoliator, oils + lotions. The room came equipped with an essential oil diffuser and detox bath salts. You guys, it was heaven. All the things I want to do but never have time to do at home. And I’ve kept up with most of these upon returning to “real life'“, especially the dry brushing + lymphatic drainage.
Book(s): Bring a really good book you want to read, start to finish. An actual physical book. A few highlighters if that's your thing. I brought this one. And this one. And this one. I finished them all.
Headphones: Noise canceling headphones (these are everything) and AirPods (always need a back-up). I listened to this podcast, this book on audible, and the trance-like sounds of 528hz on Spotify.
Sleep Machine: I’m that person. I’m just obsessed and these things hum all over our house at bedtime. I swear by them. It’s smaller than a pair of shoes and easily tucked into a suitcase.
Do The Program: Drink all the drinks, take all the supplements, do the digestive release massages and daily colonics. Lie on the floating beds, take a sauna, walk the meditation labyrinth. Learn from the lectures, go to the group classes that call to you. Use the resources that are there for you. Get what you came for. Bloom where you’re planted.
Colonics: Get a colonic on the day you arrive and the day you leave. Unless you are flying, then better to error on the side of caution and skip it on that final day. If you’re not at We Care this likely will not be on the spa menu. So do what is offered: get a massage, get a signature body treatment, go for a hike, take saunas and cold showers. Do the things that call to you and will help cushion you as you prepare for real life re-entry.
Bring These (trust me): iPad + laptop if you plan on using them to read, write or work towards your intention (not to mindlessly surf or habitually distract yourself from yourself), blank notebook/pencil/pen, a heating pad (this felt amazing as I tucked into bed at night or wrote in bed in the early hours of the morning), warm/fuzzy socks, bathing suit, cozy sweats and loungewear (bring a few matching sets, I wore these my entire stay), flip flops (I forgot mine), slip on sneakers, warm wrap or scarf, hat + sunglasses + sunscreen, and a carry-it-all tote bag.
Fly into the Closest + Easiest Airport: for me this was Palm Springs (it’s only 12 miles away from We Care). In the travel planning phase my palms sweat just thinking about flying into LAX, getting a car, driving the 2+ hours (on a good day) to my final stop. Even though there were direct flights that might have been easier, I opted to keep my stress as low as possible. I had to switch planes, it was no big deal. When I arrived to Palm Springs (small, easy airport), I hopped in a cab and was there 15 minutes later. This is a biggie you guys. Make everything as simple and easy as possible. It’s the whole point.
Bonus Stuff: check the weather and pack accordingly (I was surprised by how cold it was going to be), read online reviews for destination specific info (so many good insider tips from those who have gone before), pack lighter than you think, bring chargers, install Uber app and make sure it has updated credit card, have a plan but keep it loose and open for spontaneity, know things will come up last minute & mentally prepare in advance for change (flight cancelled, kid gets sick, lost luggage), relax and surrender into time for yourself (aka: don’t ruin the time you have with worry, guilt or feelings of self-indulgence).