How to Plan Your Own Retreat Day

When Work Wonders started as a side hustle, I was not only working a full time job, but a part time job as well.

Suffice it to say that I’ve experimented with fitting my business into my life in a few different ways.

Weekends, early mornings, evenings.

Even on my lunch break when I was still working a day job.

But without a doubt, retreat days have been the best way for me to truly be productive on my own goals and projects, especially while working full time - which is why I recommend them to my clients so often!

The purpose of having a retreat day is to set aside time to work on your own projects and your personal development.

Instead of focusing exclusively on what I can get done, retreat days incorporate learning and rest.

Your agenda should focus on things that you enjoy – so it never feels too much like work!

I used this time not only do things like build a website and write newsletters, but to learn more about marketing and prep for my coaching classes.

The point is to get work done in a way that feels nurturing and even a little indulgent!

You don’t need a business for retreat days to work for you. 

Retreat days are great for job seekers or people who take their careers seriously and want to spend time updating their resume or LinkedIn profile.

They’re also great for creative people who need to create space in a busy schedule or anyone thinking about launching a side hustle.

Set an agenda

 I include a starting time, an ending time, set times for each activity or task, and, of course, meal + break times, just like a typical retreat or conference would do.

If you don’t have a whole day, start with just a couple of hours.

Remember some time and structure is better than no time and no structure ;-)

Don’t just hustle. Learn!

Even though it’s super easy to get bogged down in a to-do list, what makes retreat days unique (and not just workdays) is the focus on development and learning.

For me, that meant learning WordPress and other tech I needed to run my business, and also, setting aside time to read material on coaching, career development, and more.

All of our clients are eager learners - so use this time to honor your curiosity and skill development.

Create

This is also the time that I do most of my writing, including newsletters and blog posts, and work on my e-book and online course.

I always leave time for a little brainstorming too.

I always feel accomplished and motivated after a good writing session so I always include this in my retreat agenda.

Batch tasks

I always schedule an hour for tasks like invoicing clients and updating my social media pages.

Think about what this might look like for you.

Maybe it’s editing or sending out pitches if you’re a writer.

Maybe it’s uploading product images and descriptions to Etsy.

Batching similar tasks together saves me a lot of time!

(And it feels so good to start your week on top of things!)

Set boundaries

Say “No!” to any invites that come up when you have a retreat day planned.

If you live with others, let them know your plans in advance so your time isn’t interrupted.

Honor the time that you’ve decided to focus on yourself and what you love!

And when you’re done working (because even if you love it, it is still work, right?!), definitely make the time to relax and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

For me, that means putting the laptop away!

Don’t obsess over the details.

My retreat days were often usually 5-6 hours long but they really don’t have to be.

Four hours could be a really great length for a retreat day as well. You can get a lot done with a 90-minute agenda.

Although I haven’t done it yet, I think it would be fun to do a retreat day with some friends, for extra accountability (plus you can do something fun and social afterward to celebrate!).

Retreat days have been an important game-changer for my productivity.

I get to set aside time for what I love, be productive, be creative, and learn new things. They’re really adaptable for any side project or hobby.

If you like ideas like this, you’ll love our Career Collective. Transform your work + life with our tools and community. Hop on the waitlist here.