I recently spent a week at a Club Med in Charlévoix, Canada, and was so inspired by the focus on wellness, movement, and mindfulness. I knew I had to bring little bits of that home with me to infuse into my daily life, for those times when I couldn’t just disappear for days and reemerge radiant. No, it’d have to fit in between soccer tournaments, deadlines, and budgets.
So here’s my very best guide to an at-home DIY wellness retreat.
First of all, how long is a retreat?
How long do you want it to be, Natalie? I feel like you need to dedicate a reasonable chunk of time to this practice to make it really feel like a true retreat, rather than just a daily, totally valid wellness practice, like exercise or skincare. To make it a retreat? It needs intention.
I’d recommend clearing at least an hour, up to a couple days, to dedicate to a revitalizing stack of self-care practices to make up your retreat.
Make your house a spa.
You don’t have your own built-in spa at home? Oh, so sad! But that’s OK, we can give your home a little spa makeover of its own.
Clear your space. Don’t overthink this step, just make sure your retreat area is tidy and cozy. Clutter tends to distract me and add to my mental to-do list, so a clear space is key. Does your entire house or apartment need to be spotless? Not on your life. But going into a period of self-care can be more productive when you’ve cleared your space to let your mind also settle.
Add classic spa elements. It’s time to romanticize this moment to yourself, so lean into the ambience hard. Think:
candles
essential oil diffuser
fresh, fluffy towels rolled up by your bath or shower
a Bluetooth speaker or Echo to stream spa tunes
a bundle of eucalyptus tied to your showerhead
Find some alone time. As much I’d love to tell you you can enjoy a self-care marathon with three kids banging on the bathroom door, I just can’t bring myself to straight-up lie to you. Prioritize finding a little bit of time when you can be uninterrupted, so you won’t be meditating with that nagging anticipation in the back of your mind, just waiting for the screams to break out…
Stream the spa tunes. I’m actually a big fan of this sort of music when I do my skincare or wind down at night. Consider playing some spa-inspired playlists to crank up the ambience during your retreat.
This is my favorite spa music playlist at the moment:
Make infused water. Such an easy one and so spa. There are so many simple combinations, and you’ll feel like you’re at a luxury spa sipping peach-mint-infused water from a glass carafe! Or a plastic cup leftover from that local pizza place—whatever. Some ideas:
Cucumber + Mint – spa classic, super refreshing and cooling.
Lemon + Ginger – energizing, with a little zing.
Strawberry + Basil – slightly sweet, slightly herbal.
Orange + Blueberry – pretty to look at and lightly citrusy.
Watermelon + Lime – summer in a glass.
Pineapple + Rosemary – tropical with a cozy, aromatic twist.
Stock your tea box. One of my favorite things about a spa is the variety of tea offered. Do I have loads of tea at home? I sure do. Do I drink way more when I’m at a spa? Absolutely. There’s something about it being displayed clearly that makes me want to drink more, and I highly recommend grabbing a couple varieties of your favorite teas to offer (yes—offer yourself) during your retreat. Or consider a tea discovery box, which feels more like a retreat’s offering than anything. Tea box next to your infused water? Peak at-home spa.
Plan your protocol.
Now that your space is ready for you to sink in, plan what you’ll be doing at your retreat. You’ll want to pick a practice from all or most of the following categories, doing more or less of any given category based on what you really love and what you really need. I’m including a handy Wellness Retreat menu at the end of the practice suggestions that’s super easy to pick from to help build your plan!
Um, speaking of planning, make sure you get plenty of sleep before and after your retreat. It might be the most important thing you do!
Treat your skin.
This one might just be the most fun, and it’s certainly what we equated to spa days when we were younger, right? Treat your skin in some way, whether that’s
booking a facial
a DIY facial (see more below!)
a body scrub in the shower
an Everything Shower™
dry brushing your skin (in long, light strokes going toward your heart) before showering or bathing
an ice roller for depuffing
massaging body oil alllllll over after a shower or bath
For a DIY facial, consider these tools to really bring you to an almost-pro level:
DIY facial kit, including a facial steamer, ultrasonic scrubber, jade roller, dermaplaning tools, jelly masks, and more
Massage.
I’m the first to admit that I’ll take a massage over anything else. I’d rather cut and dye my own hair, wax my own legs, and slather on my own clay masks before I’d give up a massage. And it’s so good for you! I highly recommend either booking a massage for your wellness retreat or practicing self-massage of some form. Consider:
abhyanga, Ayurveda’s self-massage practice that’s designed to be practiced often
use a FasciaBlaster (Make sure you have a body oil on hand for this one!)
Eat Well.
OK, your girl loves balance. But a wellness retreat is not the ideal time to engage in the cheese-fries side of balance, right? Prioritize treating your cells with lighter foods, heavy in micronutrients, so that you feel really great. Think heavy on the veggies, still with plenty of protein, lighter on the cheese like cheddar, Monterey, etc.
What you do want to do is make sure you prep ahead, so you’re not chopping and sautéing during your wellness retreat. Maybe that’s meditative for you, in which case, ignore me! But I highly recommend having a well-stocked fridge full of nourishing foods that make it easy to choose.
Kitchari (traditional Ayurvedic healing food)
Matcha chia pudding topped with caramelized bananas, pitted dates, and peanut butter
Or think spa-inspired charcuterie/grazing board with refreshing, nourishing ingredients like:
Fresh fruits & veggies like:
Cucumber rounds with a sprinkle of flaky salt
Watermelon wedges or cubes with mint
Citrus slices (orange, grapefruit, lime) arranged like a rainbow
Grape clusters (frozen grapes for a fun twist)
Thick slices of fresh tomatoes
Kiwi slices or starfruit for a tropical look
Snap peas or sugar snap peas
Mini bell peppers, halved
Jicama sticks with lime and chili salt on the side
Endive leaves as little “boats” for hummus or dips
Radishes, thinly sliced into coins
Steamed edamame pods with sea salt
Proteins like:
Rolled turkey or chicken slices with cucumber inside
Smoked salmon roses (giving much spa)
Hard-boiled eggs halved, topped with microgreens
Small bowls of hummus, tzatziki, or white bean dip
Special touches:
A few dark chocolate squares (for balance)
Burrata or cottage cheese (if you’re cool with dairy)
Nuts and seeds in little clusters (almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashews)
Greek yogurt dip with honey drizzle
Good olives
Hydrate. Of course, make sure you hydrate well! Drink plenty of water—infused or plain. Caffeinated drinks don’t count, but herbal teas do.
Move your body.
I know that we often equate a “spa day” with sitting ultra still on a heated lounger in a robe, which does sound delicious. But movement is so healing that it’s an absolute must for any DIY wellness retreat. Bonus points? You’ll feel amazing after.
A few options here:
Attend an in-person fitness class that you love
Take a movement class online (like on Peloton Digital or YouTube)
Go for a run, walk, swim, or cycle
Yoga. If I might be so bold, I’d also love for you to incorporate some yoga into your wellness retreat. Whether you’re flowing spitball-style with a few poses you have in your mind or taking a 60-minute class, yoga is the perfect way to oxygenate your body, work out tightness, and prep the mind for meditation.
Heat & cold therapy.
Ooh, some real spa fun! Heat & cold therapy are pretty popular in the wellness world right now, and they have real benefits. Even better? They’re super easy to practice on your own.
Heat therapy:
Go to a sauna, if you have access
Take a hot or warm bath
Take a hot or warm shower
Simple right? Cold therapy is just as straightforward:
Take a cold shower after a hot bath or shower
Dip into a cold bath
Are you insane? OK, sure: take a true cold plunge with ice. You’re not going to catch me here, but my husband is into it.
Tend to your mind.
True wellness includes a healthy mind, and this category of care should be a huge priority of any DIY wellness retreat. There are a few angles to touch on here, but there’s one major practice that I believe any wellness retreat needs.
Meditate. If you’re a seasoned meditator, you know full well why I’m insisting on you incorporating a little session into your retreat. For everyone else: hear me out. I know meditation may be hard for you, or just plain boring, but it’s remarkably good for you.
Do you need to sit still for an hour and think of nothing? Absolutely not. There are so many apps and free guided meditations out there to take advantage of that make meditating easier and more accessible than ever. Consider:
But wait, there’s more! The mind is such a complex thing, and simply quieting is not enough. Take advantage of this time and really nourish the mind with a few healing practices, like:
Spending quiet time outside
Walking quietly through nature
Gratitude journal
Garden
Read a book
Limit social media
Journal
Deep dive your interest or hobby (Really!)
Intentionally socialize and take time to talk with friends and/or family
More on that last one, though: Connection with others is a huge part of human wellness, but we often get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that our interaction is sometimes entirely limited to Instagram comments and group texts.
Make the time to connect intentionally during your retreat, especially after you’ve moved, quieted your mind, and cared for your body. Call your mom! FaceTime your bestie. Meet your neighbor for a walk. Whatever it is, whatever it means to you—do it. Just don’t comment on a few Facebook posts and call it good. Make it real.
The Menu
I loooove a good un-food-related menu, and I’ve made one for your DIY wellness retreat, too. Pick a couple things from each category to put together the most delicious time of self-care!
