For the past 3 weeks I’ve been crying out for space, a retreat, a vacation. I wrote about that here.
Aside from realizing I get to be my own boss, work on my own terms, and play when I want to, I also realized that over the past 3 weeks, I gave myself everything I was asking for.
I didn’t have to cross any borders or hop on any planes. And most importantly, I didn’t crash and burn.
Here’s how I did it and how you can too:
- Un-plug to plug-in. Create space from what’s going on around you so can connect with you, connect with God. Go for a sunset walk on your own. Turn off the TV and climb into bed earlier than usual with a book. Have ‘church in the yurt’ with your friends where you can bare all, dance, sing, and fill your soul. Appreciate the beauty around you, just as you would when you’re sipping cocktails and watching the sunset over the Mediterranean from the patio of your beach villa.
- Go crazy. Follow your intuition to that place outside your comfort zone. You know when you’re travelling and you end up doing crazy things you’d never do at home, like catch a ride with strangers, invite your tour guide over for dinner, play beach volleyball in a bikini… It’s different, new, and exciting. So do something out of the norm at home and get high off the buzz. Like, have some women over your house for a ‘Creative Kitchens by Kendra’ party. Or dance to Cream Anthems at 10pm as if you were in a club. Why not?
- Pamper yourself. Let’s be honest, we’re all smart cookies here. If we know how to build business plans and birth babies, we also know how to pamper ourselves. We just rarely make time to do it unless we’re away. So make the conscious choice to put yourself first and awaken your senses. For me that includes:
- Daily exercise that is fun and motivating. I’ve always moved more freely when on vacation… morning beach runs, hikes, evening swims. While that wasn’t accessible, a big thank you to myyogaonline.com’s 14 day Conscious Cleanse (and ps, this is an affiliate link, I get a free month of yoga if you sign up.)
- Creating food with a twist. I’ve mastered the chocolate mint green smoothie for breakfast and invented a sweet potato and beetroot dish to die for.
- Adding some new scents into my life. A friend sent me some Essential Oils and I’ve been soaking in the absolutely divine grapefruit and peppermint scents like no tomorrow.
- Taking care of my skin. I’ve been taking time to moisturize my hands with honey and olive oil, wash my face with a honey and sugar srub, and have replaced my toxic cleaners with natural probiotic ones.
- Play. When you’re away, you do stuff ‘just because’ without any attachment to the outcome. Anything from splashing in the pool, to riding ski jets, to playing cards. I don’t normally ‘play’ at home, but was inspired to weed my friend’s garden and realized that this is my version of play. Just get in the zone, forget about all else, and create some beauty in the meantime. Whatever floats your boat, go do it.
Funnily enough, 3 weeks of all of the above and I feel like I have just come back from being away.
I’m more relaxed. My husband isn’t picking up on a stress vibe and encouraging me to stop working like he was a few weeks ago.
I’m sleeping better and waking up before my alarm (this is seismic btw!)
I have more energy, a reflection of how I’m caring for my body AND my soul. I’m only doing things that give me energy and have stopped doing things that were depleting me.
A couple of other things that made a difference:
I actually said out loud to my husband: ‘I am needing space right now.’ In the past I would’ve felt guilty, or been afraid that this might create a rift. This time, I was so in tune to what I was feeling and what I needed, that there was no point in sugar-coating it.
Sometimes you gotta own it.
And of course, because he saw that this was true for me, and I was doing something about it in a healthy way, he wholeheartedly supported my 9pm solo walks in the park, and willingly set up a tent in our garden so I, and we, can have more space.
Which leads me to the last awesome take-away from my non-getaway.
Bring your ‘time away’ home with you.
When I say, ‘I want to get away’, there’s really only 2 scenarios that I’m thinking of.
- Camping in the mountains with loads of fresh air, crystal clean lakes, and hikes to some jaw-dropping views.
- A villa in Italy, by the beach, with a salumeria, fresh formaggio, and local vino within a 10 minute walk.
While neither one were possible to replicate this month, I do have the next best thing at home with me now.
A tent (technically a bivvy for carp fishing, but shhhh…) in my back yard so I can camp to my hearts delight.
And a little piece of Italy that I will use on a daily basis (as well as tomatoes and basil growing in the garden.)
Woman, try it. Give yourself the space you are asking for. ‘Get away’ even if you don’t go anywhere. You will come back refreshed, ready to take action from a softer place, with your creative juices flowing, I promise.
I also get it; there’s nothing like the real thing. Which is why my friend Michelle McCormick and I are hosting a retreat later this year so you can actually get away. We’ve experienced first hand the magic that un-plugging, adventure, pampering and play, can have on your life and your business.
Which is why we’re creating that space for you, as well as a container to help you apply the experience back to ‘real-life’.
8 women are invited to join us for a 3 month experience, including a week in Hawaii this October. This is for the woman who wants to be creating with soul, taking action from her heart, and wants to design a life and business that works for her.
Are you this woman?
If so, I want to connect with you. Let’s make time to talk one-on-one. Easiest way is to schedule some time here, or email me at kendratanner121@gmail.com.
And if this is the first time we’re connecting, Michelle and I have something for you: we’re passing on some of the nuggets that we’ve learned along the way, and inviting you to our upcoming Coffee Talks. Visit this page to get exclusive access to our past hangouts and info to join us live next time.
See you there, and let me know in the comments below how else you ‘get away’ without going anywhere. I’m all ears!
The True You Project 