Last year, I did an experiment I dubbed “my time in the woods”. And will be doing a version again this year.

It’s pretty darn basic; it’s simply allowing myself a week of rest and reflection, a withdrawal as much as possible from other people, external interactions, and inputs.

Last year, I did it for longer than a week, but this year I feel like a week is sufficient. To be honest, I had a hard time maintaining my withdrawal and commitment to doing nothing for more than a week and a half last year.

This isn’t a planning retreat or a time period with an agenda of any kind; this is just a week to totally reset my nervous system and be in my own space, with my own thoughts.

Then, after this little break, I will move into yearly review, planning, and more action-taking activities depending on how I feel after my break.

Again, instead of viewing January as an action-oriented time, I view it as a slow, rest, take stock time.

This is all part of my transition to creating rituals and rhythms through my year that make sense to me, align with how I feel about the seasons, and feeding my more intuitive needs.

I’d deeply craved something like this, but didn’t know how to ask for it or give myself permission to just do it.

For YEARS I kept saying I just need a break for my nervous system, I just need a break from it all, I want a retreat to do nothing but not a vacation. I wanted a break from society, a cabin in the woods sort of feel.
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And then I realized that I could just withdraw at home. I could just say, yes, I’m at home, but I’m intentionally withdrawing and not interacting for this set time period. And the short, cold days of January are the perfect time for this, and it offers a sense of a reset for the new year.

The key goal to “my time in the woods” is to have a week without interacting with people or making decisions as much as possible. To soothe my nervous system by withdrawing, avoiding stressors of any kind, and just being.

Key components of my time in the woods:

• NO social media or news – delete all apps
• NO appointments
• Food is planned, available, and easy (snacks and girl dinners!)
• Husband is instructed not to disturb as much as possible and to save any questions until I check-in
• Limited emails and text - no notifications
• Pre-planned entertainment -tv, journal, reading, hobby projects, etc. Having a list of entertainment to choose from, so I’m not searching or looking for something to do.
• If I feel inspired to write or do something, I can, but no expectations at ALL around “my time in the woods”
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It’s all about no stressors, good or bad - no decisions, nothing to hijack my nervous system (as much as possible).
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And yes, I do this at home. Being at home reduces the unknown factors of being out of the house in a rented space, the guilt of paying for a place to do nothing in for a whole week (plus packing). And I don’t feel the pressure of being in a new place, and the I should (fill in the blank ). Yes, even if it was a literal cabin in the woods, I would be like I should hike, or get in the hot tub or whatever. I would feel like I needed to make the most of it – I know this makes no sense outside of my head.
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This is really only doable at home for me because I do not have children, and I’m able to impress upon my husband the importance of this withdrawal. In my ideal scenario, my husband would be gone and take the dogs, but in January, that is hard with his job, and it would be a hard sell to get him to travel solo.
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So for now,”my time in the woods”, is really just me taking over the bedroom, having only me snacks and food, and not talking to people, including my husband.

And I know for some people this will make zero sense, but it’s something I feel like I NEED, and it isn’t about needing a vacation or break. Since starting my business, I have taken a break from work and my regular schedule over the Christmas-New Year's weeks, and I do Holiday things and things with the husband. It’s nice, but this is a different kind of break, and just for me.

When was the last time you listened to a nudge, a need, and did something that was JUST for YOU, even if it didn't make sense to anyone else? ​
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-Mariah