Giving yourself a planning retreat for the New Year (or anytime really) is a great way to set goals and make a plan for yourself, your family, etc.
I haven’t even made any resolutions yet.
But you know what? I’m not worried!
For one, I don’t make “resolutions,” per se. Instead, I set goals and plan action steps to complete them.
The best way for me to do this as a wife, a mom of four, a homemaker, and businessowner?
Get out of the house!
I’ve been giving myself personal planning retreats for years–starting when I was single and fresh out of college. I grab my Bible, some good pens, a notebook, a planner, and any other materials I might need for my planning session.
Some of my retreats have taken on a more spiritual emphasis, with me really seeking the Lord for how I wanted to grow in Him the next year.
Some have been more health or homemaking focused. This coming weekend, I’m giving myself a personal retreat that will be more business and writing focused, as I pray through where the Lord wants this site to go in the next year.
Some of my retreats have included all of these areas of my life–like the retreat I took this summer, when I was able to spend three nights at a hotel by myself.
(Thank you, hubby and Mom!)
I wasn’t able to start taking overnight retreats until my youngest turned 2, but even when I was only able to take a few hours at a coffee shop, giving myself a personal planning retreat has always been worth my while.
Here are my top 3 reasons for giving yourself a personal planning retreat:
1. It’s hard to concentrate at home.
I say that I have adult ADD. I do not know if that is true, but I promise I am the most easily distracted person ever. Just ask my hubby who comes home to a half-vacuumed carpet because I’ve realized I need to finish the laundry in the middle of cleaning the floors!
Even though I am a work-at-home mom, it is very difficult for me to do long-range goal setting and vision casting while at home. It takes me getting out of the house with a set purpose and plan for my retreat.
2. Where there is no vision, the people perish.
I have always loved this verse from Proverbs.
When there is no direction in life, we might as well be wandering aimlessly in the desert.
But everyday life doesn’t allow much time for vision casting, does it?
For me, it takes setting aside special time and seeking God for the plans He has for me. When you take time to dream and plan in advance, you’ll have more direction for how to order your daily schedule and duties.
3. Even homemakers need to dream.
I’ve been a dreamer my whole life, to the point that I now dub myself a “professional dreamer.” I even enjoy dreaming dreams for others!
But you know what? Dreaming is not a bad thing! God has set dreams in our hearts for a reason, and just because we are all grown up and have families of our own does not mean it’s time to stop!
Napoleon Hill once said: “A goal is a dream with a deadline.”
And my personal planning retreats are just that–a time to pen my dreams and give them deadlines to make them happen.
Be bold in your dreams. Set goals and plans that will help you grow as a woman and in all of your current roles–as a mom, wife, homemaker, employee/employer, friend, and anything else you set your hand to.
Would you like to give yourself a personal planning retreat?
I enjoy taking personal retreats at the beginning of each year, but since my children are past the baby stage, I am now able to take them multiple times per year.
It really doesn’t matter when you take your retreats–as long as you take them!
Would you like to give yourself a personal planning retreat?
Maybe you do, but you don’t know where to start.
Find out more about Your Retreat here.
On Sale for $5 through January!
Want more inspiration for giving yourself a personal planning retreat? Listen in on my podcast on this with Kat Lee of Inspired to Action, and check out my friend Leigh Ann’s eBook Live for Him! If you have a longer retreat planned, her 81-page eBook would be an excellent read to take along!
Leigh Ann @ Intentional By Grace
Thanks for mentioning Live for Him at the bottom of your post. A personal planning retreat is so important! I love how you said, “even homemakers need to dream.” It’s so true and something I missed out on for many years! Thanks for sharing, Erin!
Erin
You’re so welcome, Leigh Ann! You have a great book, and I hope some ladies here take advantage of getting it!
Angi @ SchneiderPeeps
I’ve not been able to go on a full blown planning retreat but I try to get away to our local coffee house once a week and just regroup. My family can tell when that doesn’t happen as our lives get very chaotic since mama struggles with Chaotic Thinking Disorder ;-).
Erin
Haha–I struggle with the same!
Rose @ Walnut Acre
A friend and I have gotten together several times in the last few weeks to work on our goals and planning notebooks together. It’s been a wonderful experience to have a planning buddy.
Erin
That is so much fun! I am an extrovert, and I have some friends who have gone before with me, and it’s been a blessing!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
This is a habit I really need to make happen in my life. There is always so much to think about and plan for and so many goals I want to accomplish (remember!)– and my mind is just too full and busy to keep it all straight! I’ve tried to go out for just a couple of hours, but it seems like by the time I get my mind cleared and slowed enough to concentrate, my time is almost over! My baby is about to turn one and the idea of leaving for longer stretches of time is becoming more possible.
Thanks for sharing this encouragement and the resources to make the time more profitable!
Erin
It does get easier when they are older, Lisa! My youngest is 28 months, and I’m about to go on my second overnight retreat this weekend. It’s amazing the difference. But also cherish that time when they are little because it will be gone fast!
Marie Fair
I have been on one retreat for myself and it was amazing what God did in my life that week. After that I went back once and worked the retreat but it was still such a blessing and something I was going to do twice a year every year to help disciple other’s but I was in a car wreck that left me paralyzed so obviously I lost my independence immediately and l love the idea of doing this with a buddy but there is so much to take care of my physical needs my husband is the only one who cares for me. So it’s me and God alone. But that’s okay because he’s all I need but I have to tell you not being able to get away, go to church, and loosing my independence has been really hard. I was the kind of person who came and went when I wanted to but the only place I went was church and chaperoned church trips with my kids. The retreat was something me and my best friend done together and now she has gone to be with Jesus so I don’t really have anyone I can call friend. I have alot of acquaintances. Any recommendations?
Erin
I am so sorry about your accident, Marie–and about the loss of your friend (although I am happy to know she knew the Lord!!). Do you think you husband could go with you? I love being able to have someone else with me, too, at times, but we both just keep each other company at opposite sides of the room, etc. while we are working through our retreat. I hope that helps a bit!
Elaine
I love to plan, but rarely have time for it, so it gets squeeze in, in spurts, after the kids are in bed, on random nights of the week. I would LOVE a planning retreat!!! I only manage to plan out 1-3 weeks of our homeschool at a time, so it would be great to have some longer-term plans.
Erin
It makes such a difference for me! I wish I could do one more lie once/month!
Kathleen Bandaruk
I’m so grateful I came across your blog post on Personal Retreats. I’m not a mom, but I sure could use a retreat from my busy life. I need to recalibrate and get back in line with God’s vision for my life this year. I’ve felt stagnant in my blog growth, so hopefully, with some quiet time and prayer, God will show me what’s next and I can grow it into what He wants to share with the world.
Thank you for this important reminder!
Erin
Thanks!
Anna
Hi Erin!
I used your planning retreat template last year and loved it. I wanted to do it again this year but my old download think wont work! I tried to sign up for emails again to get a new one and the link from your website isn’t working either. Help! I was hoping to do this tomorrow.
Erin
Hi Anna! I think I just emailed you back! I hope you have a WONDERFUL retreat!! <3