In our everyday life, we, as black women, are often everybody’s caretaker. But our own. Experiencing burnout, anxiety, depression, and spiritual unbalance? To get you back in alignment, we’ve put together a variety of self-care retreat ideas.
Black women will love these self care ideas at any budget. From wellness weekends away from home to simple self care practices to add to your daily routine, these self care retreat ideas are the perfect way to get back to you.
What is self-care?
Self-care can be a hot bath, reading a good book, or a vacation day from work. But true, long term self care is about setting boundaries, getting in touch with your inner voice, and filling your soul. After reflective self care practices, you should walk away rested and focused on what adds to your personal growth.
Self-care isn’t a required checklist of activities. Think of this article as a menu of options for your personal self care routine. Choose ideas that match your personality and fill your emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. And of course, fit your budget.
How do I plan my self-care retreat?
The most important step is to commit. To yourself and to a date. Put the date on the calendar, your planner, or even a post it note on your mirror. It may never be the ideal time. You have to make time. Your mental and emotional health need it.
You need it.
And you deserve it.
Wellness travel for self-care
Ready to block out the outside world and have a truly present moment? Wellness travel for a self care retreat may provide the soul soothing you need.
From Costa Rica to the African continent, wellness travel has gone international. Time to get some stamps in that passport, sis.
Looking to retreat with a Black Owned Business? Here are some retreat options that supports your self-care and the Diaspora.
Africa With Us
Here’s to embarking on a wellness retreat in the Motherland. Your body will be in motion as you start each day with life giving dance or fitness sessions led by authentic local instructors. From local cuisine to community service, fill your soul by connecting with and supporting local communities.
During this two week journey, you will dance, workout, tour cultural sites, take cooking lessons, create fabrics, and even have time to shop. If your soul is seeking a cultural connection and improved physical health, this is the self-care retreat idea for you.
Black Women Healing Retreat
Join other Black Women as you unwind, unlearn, and disconnect from the trauma of Black womanhood. Held in beautiful places like Costa Rica and the Caribbean, you will connect with nature and yourself. These unique and authentic wellness experiences center femininity, wellness, and healing.
They also offer monthly self-care memberships with access to monthly workshops, healing guided meditation and yoga classes, and journal activities.
Worthy Retreat
With upcoming retreats in Mexico and Greece, Worthy Retreats embrace somatic healing to help you transform and align with your true, worthy self. You’ll join a sacred circle of like minded women in exploration of your inner story and identity alignment.
The retreat incorporates motivational yoga, affirmations, rest, breath healing, belief re-alignment, and goal setting Embrace the peace, power and presence you are worthy of experiencing.
Unbound Black Woman Healing Retreat
At Unbound’s healing retreat, participants will enjoy retreat, respite, and recreation as a mode to healing in your brain, body, and nervous system. Including a cleansing ritual in Mayan clay and a yacht party along the Mexican waters, the retreat will offer unique experiences to reconnect with oneself and nature.
As a licensed counselor and Ph.D. candidate, the retreat’s founder uses Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to promote a return to wholeness. The group will dive into the transgenerational work needed to collectively address the traumatic experiences unique to Black women.
OMNoire Retreats
From Belize to Bali and other beautiful locales, OMNoire hosts transformative, soul-enriching luxury retreats around the globe. Embrace your emotional and spiritual healing in an atmosphere of connection, support, and growth.
This global wellness brand exposes women of color to new and diverse modalities of health and wellness. Each retreat has a different focus: entrepreneurship, ancestral connections, goddess work, literary exploration, and more.
Whole day, full weekend, or whole week, there are all kinds of retreats and self-care vacation ideas.
At Home Self-Care Retreat Ideas
Don’t have the budget for wellness travel? Good news! There are plenty of at-home self-care retreat ideas. In an hour or even a few minutes, you can incorporate these self care rituals into your daily life.
1. Good Night’s Sleep
How often do you really get a good night’s sleep? Commit to giving your body the rest it needs. Once the house is calm and quiet for the night, resist the urge to cross one more thing off your “To Do” list.
Instead, run yourself a hot bath. Drop in a bath bomb, essential oils, or Epsom Salt. Dim the lights, light a candle, and turn on some calming music. While the Epsom Salt soothes your muscles and softens your skin, allow the warm water to soak away the stress of the day.
After your self-care bath, take time to moisturize your body and put on your favorite pajamas. Spray a little lavender mist on your pillow. Sip a cup of hot chamomile tea or steamed milk to relax. Read, journal, or listen to music until you drift off to sleep.
2. Hydration & Healthy Meals
Water, water, and more water! Drink your water, Sis! Starting the day with a hot drink gets your system moving. Once you’re up and moving, sip a hot glass of water with sliced lemon or choose another non-caffeinated hot drink.
Fuel your body with three healthy meals throughout the day. Healthy (and of course, tasty recipes) will give your body the nutrients it craves. Not necessarily what you might be craving. Remember, self-care is giving your body what it needs.
Sugar and carbs can lead to brain fog. Embrace clarity by snacking on fresh fruit and veggies. Instead of sweet tea or soda, sip fruit infused water throughout the day is a great choice. Make today, the day you hit your water intake goal!
3. Relaxation Techniques
With such busy schedules, our bodies are yearning for stillness and peace. A long solitary walk. Stretching on the patio or balcony. Calming meditation in the front room. Calming self care activities can greatly improve your mental health.
Need some guidance? Try a Tai Chi or yoga class at your local park district or yoga studio. Incorporating meditation practices is a great way to destress and increase your positivity. Deep breathing and thinking techniques can provide a stronger connection and sense of self.
4. Journal Your Thoughts
Write the vision and make it plain. Journaling helps to shift your mindset, releases negative thoughts, practice gratitude and forgiveness, and gain confidence. Not sure how to start journaling? A guided self care journal provides daily prompts, inspirational quotes, and even coloring pages. A guided journal removes the intimidation and lack of focus with traditional journaling.
5. Affirmations and Spiritual Renewal
Your thoughts and beliefs impact your entire day. So start the day with morning affirmations. To regain your intentionality, positivity, and peace, connect to your spirituality. That may be spending time in quiet prayer or meditation, reading your religion’s Holy Book or other books on spirituality, or communing with nature. Honor a sabbath or day of rest in line with your spiritual beliefs.
6. Simple Spa Treatments
It’s nice to schedule a regular massage or mani/pedi at a spa. When that’s not possible, try a few at-home spa treatments.
Purchase a face mask or sweet smelling foot scrub. Or DIY your own masks and body butter with natural ingredients from your kitchen. Making your own beauty treatments can be therapeutic itself. You may find a new hobby or side hustle.
Lay a massage pad across the back of your office chair and soak your feet in a warm Epsom Salt soak. Simple relaxation for an at-home retreat.
7. Time With Friends
Even a little bit of quality time with a friend can increase your physical and social well being. Plan some group activities with your good girlfriends: brunch, spa day, shopping, or book club. Together, laugh your way through a hip hop fitness class or even a twerk class.
8. Reading and Podcasts
Find yourself mindlessly scrolling through your favorite social media channel? Cell phones and social media can be a drain on our mental health. Power it down, while you power up your mind with a good book. Pick up an old favorite book and read it again. Or read a self improvement book. Not a big reader? Listen to a productivity podcast or an audiobook while you commute to work or cook dinner.
Check out some of our favorite book and podcast round-ups:
Best Books for Black History Month for Adults to Read
10 Books About Body Image and Self-Esteem BIPOC Women Need
Best Mindfulness Meditation Podcasts to Keep You Grounded
9. Get Moving/ Boost Your Physical Health
Our bodies crave movement and fresh air. So listen to your body’s needs and get moving! Release some endorphins and see your mood soar. You can keep it simple with a walk after lunch or an afternoon of exploring nearby hiking trails. Feel better on wheels? Grab your bike or skates and get rolling.
Get your heart pumping with aerial ropes, pole fitness, or Zumba classes. Pull out your jump rope & join a local Double Dutch team. Physical activity is an excellent way to boost your mood and improve your physical health.
10. Seek Support on Your Self-Care Journey
Struggling to find your Zen? Talking to a trusted friend or counselor can improve your emotional health. Therapy for Black Girls is a space dedicated to the mental wellness of Black women.
Reaching out to a therapist or joining a self-care group is a great idea. Uniting with like minded individuals and caring professionals can keep you moving forward on your self-care journey.
Enjoy Local Self-Care Activities
Self-care can’t always be a week long wellness retreats or even a whole day of wellness activities. Select from these self care activities to create a personal retreat right in your own town.
- Take a stroll through a local museum or art gallery
- Window shop at the mall
- Reserve a quiet room at your local library
- Camp out on a bench or grassy slope in your local park
- Book an AirBnB or hotel room for the night
- Schedule a mobile spa treatment to come to you
Find more self-care activities below:
12 Virtual Self-Care Activities to Try Out This Year
25 Self-Care Activities for Groups You and Your Friends Will Love
21 Fun and Healthy Self-Care Activities for Teens
Routine Self-Care Practices
Wellness travel to exotic places. Weekends at an AirBnB. A day of spa treatments with friends. Your self care routine will vary from month to month or day to day. While saving up for your next big self care retreat, add a few simple self care rituals into your daily routine.
Journal. Meditate. Go to bed early.Drink more water. Just a few minutes each day can improve your mental, physical, and emotional health through regular self-care practices.
