Inspirational leadership guru Simon Sinek tells us to always “Start With Why.” His book and popular Ted Talk of the same name challenge us to think first about WHY people need something. In other words, what are the benefits? So before I even tell you what exactly a Personal Retreat Day (PRD) is and how to do one, I’m going to take his advice and start with why you should start this monthly practice.

The overarching “why” is TIME. It seems counterintuitive, but investing time in a PRD can actually multiply your time & effectiveness in the long run by giving you an opportunity to focus on what matters most. Implementing a PRD routine into your life gives you the much-needed time and mental space to think about big ideas.

Here are five “time-multiplying” benefits of Personal Retreat Days:

Increased Productivity

If you’re like me, during a busy workday you don’t really think about what’s on your to-do list, you’re just too darn busy doing it! A PRD gives you time to evaluate your work life (as well as your home life), cut out the non-essentials, and figure out your most important tasks.

An Opportunity to Focus on Your Values

Who do you want to be in 5 years…10 years…25 years? We don’t often take time to reflect on important questions like this. PRDs give you a chance to step out of your normal routine and think about what’s vital to your life. While productivity is about what you want to DO in life, values are about character: define who you want to BE.

Find Balance

Taking time for renewal and refreshment leads to life balance and prevents burnout. Regular PRDs give you time to check in to see where your life might be out of balance and gives you an opportunity to change course.

Self-Improvement

During your PRD, you’ll review certain areas of your life to examine what’s working and what’s not. You’ll learn to recognize negative patterns and habits, reveal blind spots, and make necessary changes to become a better you. And you’ll enjoy celebrating your “Big Wins” along the way!

Creativity

Taking time to organize your mind gives you space and permission to “think outside the box,” generating new and fresh ideas. If you work in a creative field, a PRD is also a good opportunity for you to create something that’s not work-related, but simply for your own enjoyment.

I hope this list of benefits will get you super excited about spending PRD time in order to gain quality-of-life time. In my own personal experience, I can tell you that my time spent in PRDs has given me some of my best ideas, my most life-changing revelations, and has re-calibrated my definition of success. Wishing that for you too, my friend.