How to Prepare for a Healing Retreat (Mindset, Packing, Logistics)

So you’ve booked your much-needed healing retreat after some time searching for one.

Now it’s the fun bit! As you get closer to the date, and even just thinking about it, your body bubbles with excitement.

I understand that packing or just preparing for something can be daunting and may be anxiety-inducing.

But I’m a firm believer of “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. And going away to a foreign place for even just a week needs some preparation.

To help ease your journey to the retreat, here’s a few retreat prep tips to get you going.

How to Find a Healing Retreat that Suits Your Needs

A simple guide on finding a healing retreat that you need right now to ease your dilemmas while traveling to new places with a community.

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Prepare Your Mindset

If you’ve listed down your why before booking a retreat, hold on to it. Let that be your north star for this healing retreat.

Remember that this retreat is not just you (unless you booked a private one, wow).

You will be in an unfamiliar location with new people.

If you’re a social butterfly, then maybe this wouldn’t be much of an issue.

But if you’re an introvert or just someone who tends to react differently in unfamiliar territories, you might want to set some expectations so that you can get the best out of the retreat.

Here are my top 3 suggestions as a fellow introvert:

1. Keep to your why no matter what
2. Get to know 2-3 people each day
3. Set intention for each activity

What Clothes to Bring to a Retreat

One thing I wish I had brought along with me to the summer retreat in Granada was a summer dress.

While I did not need a dress at the retreat centre itself, it would have been nice to wear one while strolling along the streets of Granada city. It was a beautiful sight looking at the other ladies decked in colourful, flowy, flowery, modest summer dresses.

Besides that, you could bring along t-shirts, sweatpants, and swimwear if there’s a pool.

Be sure to ask your retreat leader what the weather would be like and what items of clothing you should bring.

Buffer Time Before & After Retreat

You might want to consider booking a flight a day early and staying in a hotel for a night. This is to minimise the potential of any delays or setbacks that could happen.

I was very lucky that there wasn’t any issue with my flight. But there were a few retreat goers whose flight got delayed or cancelled and they ended up arriving very late or missing the first day altogether.

So if you want to be safe and if you can afford it, arrive in the meetup city a day earlier and then join the group the next day.

For the flight back home, you may want to book it a day (or a few days) after the retreat. This is mainly to avoid the rush and also to allow a few days for you to explore more of the city if you wish. You could also plan these extra days with other retreat goers prior to the retreat if there’s an online chat group set up.

In my case, I decided to stay in Granada for an extra week and it was a really good decision. I got to spend more time at the Mezquita Granada, spend Eid Adha with the community, and meet fellow female travellers.

Take in Every Moment of the Retreat

Time will fly by fast so be sure to take in each precious moment as it comes!

Whenever there is a free-and-easy time, spend it on meditation and reflection.

You may not get the same chance again so do your best to preserve the moments in your memory, or your camera roll.

And be present in each activity with the other retreat goers. Be open to different opinions and don’t be afraid to be a little bit more vulnerable.

A healing retreat is meant to be a safe space for you to express yourself and I hope you will have the chance to experience it.