Wellness retreats have become increasingly popular in the UK, and internationally. This is particularly true since 2020 which brought a growing awareness in taking care of our health in the best ways we can. During this time online searches for activity-based wellness retreats surged by over 900%. This trend has only gained momentum, as more people recognize the value of taking time away to reset and nurture their well-being through fitness, mindfulness, and reconnecting with nature.
Why they are appealing:
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Time away from everyday responsibilities, routines, stresses
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Immersion in fitness and mindfulness
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Reconnection with nature
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Opportunity for self-reflection and relaxation
It is understandable to feel that the best way to improve well-being when life feels overwhelming is by booking a weekend wellness retreat. It is often portrayed as the ultimate solution for achieving balance. This belief is really relatable, especially with the abundance of advertisements and messaging promoting wellness retreats. The appeal is clear—a weekend away from it all, ready to immerse ourselves in a state of mindful bliss. In fact, the global wellness industry, and wellness tourism are nothing short of booming since 2020.
Creating mindfulness in your everyday.
We all look for those moments to take a hugely deserved and needed break, but they are not always possible for everyone. For some they might be something they do once a year, or less.
The state of mindfulness and being mindful starts in the small moments not the grand gestures
Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment, and not dwelling on the past, or projecting into the future. And while that intense hit that allows you to be in a space on a wellness retreat, practising meditation, and movement, it is also true to say that we can achieve a longer-term feeling of good wellbeing, when we begin from where we are in our daily lives.
As James Clear suggests, in his book Atomic Habits, tiny changes in your daily habits can and do have transformational effects on you life.
A healthy and nourished lifestyle is something that needs nurtured to be sustained. But the good news is that we already have a huge capacity to incorporate mindful practices into our lives, even when we feel we can’t find enough time, space or energy to do so.
Finding Pockets of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Mindfulness doesn’t have to involve getaways or hours of meditation. And the good news is, you might already practice it without realising it. It can be found in the smallest, most ordinary activities. Whether you’re walking the dog, tending to your garden, or commuting to work, there are always opportunities to slow down and be present.
Simple ways to practice mindfulness in everyday life:
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Walking the dog: Notice the sensations of movement, sounds, and surroundings.
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Tending your garden: Focus on textures, colors, and smells.
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Commuting to work: Pay attention to your breath or the rhythm of the journey.
Dedicate a little time to activities that can help
A great place to start with mindfulness is in picking up a pencil and unlocking your creativity. Mindfulness colouring has grown in popularity as more people discover its calming benefits. By focusing on colouring in simple designs, it is possible to enter a meditative state that helps reduce stress and anxiety. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to practice mindfulness, giving your mind a break from daily pressures while boosting creativity and concentration. Whether you’re new to mindfulness or looking for a relaxing hobby, colouring can offer a peaceful retreat from your busy routine.
A morning routine, even a very full one, can be tweaked to include some movement or mindful practice into it.
Mindful activities to enhance your morning routine:
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A 10 minute stretch session
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a cup of coffee before everyone else gets up with the curtains open to let natural light stimulate you
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a short meditation
The So App: A Free Daily Habits Journal.
How can this create mindfulness?
To create mindfulness, these activities allow a pause and become fully present in the moment. By paying attention to small, everyday experiences—whether it’s feeling the stretch in your muscles, savouring the warmth of a morning coffee, or simply observing your surroundings—you can ground yourself in the present. These practices interrupt the autopilot mode we often operate in, helping to reduce stress and anxiety by bringing awareness to thoughts and sensations in real time. Through these small, intentional actions, you can incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine without needing a retreat.
Making the time for mindfulness activities
Proven techniques to make time for mindfulness:
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Habit stacking: Combine mindfulness with existing habits (e.g., meditate while waiting for coffee to brew).
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Following your circadian rhythm—your body’s natural clock—can help you schedule mindfulness practices at times when you’re most alert (anyone else sneaking through their house at 4am to write? Or is that just me?).
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Track your time: Identify and reduce distractions, like social media, to reclaim time.
With these strategies in place, you can gradually open up space for a wellness routine that, over time, becomes second nature. Since it takes an average of 66 days for a habit to become ingrained, committing to these small steps will lead to a more mindful life.
In summary, once you begin to put these small routines into practice in your normal, everyday life, there is a far greater chance of successfully sustaining them. Or, put another way, there’s far less likelihood that you won’t be able to maintain them in the longer term.
And, of course, there is always the fantastic add-on to this when you book the wellness retreat as a reward for your dedication to being more mindful in the everyday!
Author: Jo Roberts, Women’s Everyday Wellbeing Habits Trainer, founder of So Liberating, and Creator of The 15 Minute Me Method.
This post was first published on October 10, for Wellbeing Magazine.
