Welcome, friend! Thanks for joining me on the blog today. You’ve already read my post on why you should take a Personal Retreat Day (PRD). (What? You haven’t? Check it out HERE). Now that you’re inspired, let’s discover what exactly is a PRD.

In a nutshell, a PRD is a special time you set aside to work on yourself and have inner dialogue. It’s a day of self-reflection with the goal of self-improvement. You already know that PRD stands for “Personal Retreat Day.” Let’s define those terms.

• Personal – The “P” in Personal Retreat Day stands for Personal Development. It’s “You Time.” This is not a time for self-indulgence or pampering (although that can certainly be a component of your day). Rather, this is personal time for you to reflect on and learn from the past, dream about the future, and plan your next steps. Your retreat should also feel personal. In a future post I’ll be sharing what I do during my typical PRD, but those ideas might not work at all for your unique personality. The ultimate goal is to do whatever it takes for you to renew self-awareness and create space for “inner conversation.” Eventually, you’ll find a routine that works well for you. (Don’t know where to start? The PRD Assessment Grid is an easy tool to help you kick-start that inner dialogue.)

• Retreat – No need to go to an expensive spa for your PRD, instead this kind of retreat is taking you inward. You will temporarily “retreat” from society, work & family responsibilities, and technology. (Yes, it’s possible to live without your phone for a few hours!) Retreating works best when you can actually get away from your normal environment for a few hours. I love to do my PRDs outside in nice weather, or a cozy coffee shop when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Lately that hasn’t been an option because of COVID, so I just put a “do not disturb” sign on the door and retreat to my bedroom.

• Day – Ideally, I encourage people to set aside an entire workday (about six to eight hours) for their monthly retreat. Realistically, this can be difficult depending on your life stage and work responsibilities. I work in the film industry, where shoot days can often be 12 hours or longer. But I’m also a freelancer and have some control over my calendar. I block off my PRD days several months in advance and try my darnedest to stick to the commitment, but I occasionally have to re-schedule when a long-term project comes along. Sometimes I’ll choose a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon instead of a full workday. If 6-8 hours seems totally unrealistic, start small: block off a 2 to 4-hour window for your PRD. Shorter is better than no PRD at all!

Remember: Spend one day a month on reflection and planning, and you’ll reap multiple benefits. This sacred time investing in yourself will pay off big time!