Several years ago, I went away for 4 days for my first business retreat with 12 other entrepreneurial women, led by a coach and mentor I’ve been working with for a few years. Turns out this retreat wasn’t much about business at all though. It was a chance to reconnect with yourself.
What I walked into was a transformational series of days that would bond me to 12 beautiful souls as we shed past lives, embraced change, let loose, and conquered our greatest fears head on.
For me this weekend was an opportunity to reconnect with myself. A chance to re-invite and re-invigorate lightness, fun, stupidity, and vulnerability back into my world.
I didn’t realize until that weekend how much of that part of myself I had lost in the last few years. I didn’t realize how much I was still internally grieving Bella’s loss. I didn’t realize just how significantly becoming a mom to Brielle changed me, changed our family dynamic, and changed how we interact with the world. I didn’t realize just how hard I have been working to sustain the long hours needed to build a business (ie: too hard most days).
And, I sure didn’t realize how re-discovering those former ‘funner’ parts of me would actually be lot like riding a bike. Just hop back on, start pedaling, and get going!
Have you ever been left feeling bit dull, dim, lost, stuck? Or maybe you’re feeling nothing at all and you just want to re-invigorate your life with a bit ‘me time’. Lucky for you, these 5 tips should help you reconnect with yourself:
1) Reconnect with your partner
Make date night a priority. Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer. Turn off the phone. Get out. Stay in. Be sure you’re connecting, just the two of you. Pick activities that help you remember why you fell in love in the first place.
2) Connect with old friend
Most of my revelations from this weekend as I tapped into my goofy childlike side involved memories of things I used to do when I was in high school and college. Now I want to call up each and every one of those school friends to reminiscence about (or maybe even recreate) the silly things we used to do together.
3) Channel your inner child
Go ahead and stop what you’re doing right now and do something silly instead. Turn on the Macarena and dance your heart out, run through the sprinkler with your kids, dress up like superheros for the day, or make up a game using bouncy balls and a plastic rooster. No excuses, I promise you’ll feel GREAT once you’re done.
4) Make a daily date with yourself
Think of something you really enjoy doing now, or something you loved doing as a kid and go DO IT! 
Even if it’s only for 5 minutes a day. At our retreat I recalled a watercolor class I took when I was in middle school and how much it fed my soul. I’m now planning on setting up a little painting station by my coffee maker so I can sneak in a few brush strokes as I get ready to begin each morning. (Someone please hold me accountable and make sure I actually follow through and do this, ok?)
5) Learn or try something new
Find a new way to challenge your mind and brain. Go creek diving. Take a trapeze lesson. Pick up a new hobby or skill you’ve been hoping to master. Cook that new recipe you’ve been wanting to try.
Or why not reconnect with yourself with the 100 Steps Project? The 100 Steps Project was my journey of finding joy during difficult times.
Hi, I’m Beryl of Be Young Creative! I was never a person who carried a camera with me wherever I went. But I fell in love with photography in 2009 as a way to document the exciting time of becoming a mom and rediscover my creative spark along the way. I believe that when you choose the creative path, you discover it’s never too late to change course, find happiness, heal, try more, do less, be bold, get quiet, & cultivate a life of courage and connection. I created the Cultivate Creativity Journal as a way to make space for you in the chaos of daily life and explore what it means to create a life you love.