Writers’ retreat

It was cold, quiet, and I had no internet connection...

Getting away is not just about taking time off. I can do that while staying home.

In my opinion, "getting away" is breaking the patterns of your routine to reflect, refocus and get back on track.

It's easy to lose your perspective when your "every day" feels like Groundhog Day, causing you to forget your purpose, your identity, and the meaning you ascribe to your efforts and to life.

So, I decided to go to the mountains for a few days, alone to contemplate in isolation, step back, and see the big picture.

Not a writers' retreat per se, but this secluded retreat up in the mountains, in an almost completely abandoned village, was my choice of sanctuary for a while.

The sense of detachment and timelessness was all I needed to unwind, generate a few "aha moments" and get a lot of writing done. I covered several thousands of quality words, as well as a bunch of good notes and voice recordings for my upcoming book on motivation.

I even finished "reading" one audiobook on psychology, and I read the first part of a hard-copy book on real estate! Hard copy! Remember those?

I even did some hiking that reminded me of what it felt like to have that innocent child-like sensation of exploring and discovering the world.

Either you're a writer or not, I highly recommend experiences like these. Travelling alone can reveal many things to you about your own psyche, things that the distractions of everyday life can keep buried.

Now it's Monday, I'm back at work, but I feel more relaxed, focused and on a clear course towards my goals.

I suggest that you get away more often, away from locations, situations and people. Only then can you appreciate the things that truly matter to you.