Help me plan my 5 day health retreat!

[BingoBhango]

Ex dp is taking the dc for FIVE WHOLE DAYS! I've never had longer than 2 days away from them in the last 7 years. Usually on child free days I would fall into a wine/netflix/mumsnet hole for 48 hours and emerge feeling even worse than before. This time I thought I'd try something different so I'm going to do a green smoothie cleanse, yoga, a walk in nature, and 3 litres of water per day. No caffeine or alcohol either.

What else should I include? I'd like to try a guided meditation, nidra or soundbath video if anyone has any recommendations. I will have to work everyday but it's 5 hours a day from home so will still have some free time. No budget for massages or beauty treatments unfortunately but happy to DIY.

Maybe some wee rituals like a nice drink or radio or reading every morning?

This sounds amazing - I think i will do the same! Ive just started online barre classes which are more active than yoga but not sweaty. Could could perhaps try something like this?
Prep some healthy lunches like buddha bowls?

Oh this is such a good idea! I’ve also got a whole 5 days coming up when the ex has the kids and am working in the day so wasn’t sure what to do.

I was thinking I was going to try a bad get into the routine of doing the headspace app meditations again with the hope I’d be in the groove so will continue it when the kids come back

This sounds great!
Have you tried yin yoga? It combines the benefits of meditation with some yoga poses (it's not strenuous like ashtanga etc). I like the idea of mindfulness but always end up thinking about the chores.... But I find yin yoga really good for switching off. Loads of videos on YouTube (I like Kassandra, she's good)

How about a sunrise picnic, with your green smoothie, or some treat food. It will set you up for the day.

When you say green smoothie cleanse I'd recommend eating healthy foods too as an actual cleanse for 5 days is anything but pampering, good chance you'll feel rotten for the first few days.

I always find cutting out bread is helpful in a detox sort of way. Maybe you don't want to be too militant and stick to just smoothies. Take the opportunity to treat yourself, with nice healthy foods as well.

How about buying some at home hair treatments, face masks, do a footner?

Watching a sunrise is brilliant! I live near the coast so should be able to see one. I'll definitely incorporate some reading into each day. I'm hoping some of these good habits will continue once the kids are back.

I have the Calm app and really enjoy it. My ideal bedtime routine is skincare, journaling, reading, then a Calm sleep story. At the moment it's massive snack, Netflix, glass of wine, pass out with make up on.

You can get different types of clay online cheaply and have mud baths, also make face masks and body wraps to be deployed over the duration 😊.

Likewise I’d recommend a vat of salt - Epsom, Himalayan or Dead Sea - make scrubs/for bath but at least once I’d recommend putting an insane amount into a bath and making what I can only describe as a homemade floatation tank 😃 sometimes I have to force my arms and legs down constantly it’s like a (very mild) workout 😂 really relaxing tho.

Homemade coffee scrub is really good and simple; just coffee grounds and a carrier oil (plus essential oils if you like/have) - really good for the body and then just shower off.

If you bought a litre of carrier oil (eg grapeseed/jojoba) off eBay/Amazon you can give yourself face and body massages, use for salt/coffee scrubs, overnight oil hair wrap (use a plastic bag then shower cap lol), use it as bath oil etc etc - organic, natural, very versatile and c.£10

In terms of soundbath - along similar lines - maybe look at sofeggio frequencies on youtube (ideally with good speakers/earphones); I get totally addicted to them!
They are an ancient musical scale whose frequency/vibrations are meant to resonate in certain ways with the body and assist healing/detox/get rid of negative thoughts etc etc (at this particular second I’m currently on a downer, in pain with a bad back and drinking wine, so might fire them up myself later 😂)

Hope you have an amazing pamper!

When is it op?

A little tip I found, if I'm planning to cut out sugar I need to implement it slowly, otherwise I feel crappy and anxious. Before the 5 days try and cut down, cold turkey can be hard work!