Experiencing Burnout at Work? Consider a Silent Retreat
Angelina Truchan
| 3 min read
Pushing yourself hard at work for extended periods of time isn’t always the best strategy to get ahead. While you might hope your hustle is recognized and rewarded, it can actually lead to burnout, which makes you a less effective employee in the long run.
It’s important to take care of your physical and mental wellness so you’re not over-worked. A great way to avoid burning out at work is to take a silent retreat. This can allow you to recharge, center yourself and escape from your everyday stresses.
What is a silent retreat?
One might think that taking a vacation is the go-to solution for feeling burned out at work. Although this can be beneficial, vacation can also be stressful. Between planning, navigating a new place, coordinating your stay, activities, transportation and more, the actual fun of vacationing can sometimes be lost.
A silent retreat provides a “zen” solution. So what is a silent retreat? It’s quite literally just that: a silent place to retreat. Some retreats are only for a couple days, whereas others can be as long as two weeks. It is encouraged for attendees to stay in silence for their entire stay. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for you to unplug from electronics.
What are the benefits of a silent retreat?
Before you become intimidated by the thought of staying in complete silence for a few days, consider some of the benefits. According to Sally Blount, Dean at Kellogg School of Management, silent retreats help her to let go of connection, balance input with reflection, and develop “leadership muscle”.
The Prama Institute and Wellness Center advocates for silent retreats because of their ability to provide an opportunity to expand creative potential, self-realization and service to others.
Although staying in complete silence may seem a little extreme, many thoughtful leaders swear by this meditative method. Among these leaders who practice mindful meditation are Russell Simmons (co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and CEO of Rush Communications), Arianna Huffington (founder of online publication HuffPost) and Rick Goings (CEO of Tupperware). Silent retreats could even be a great employee engagement activity.
Where can I find a silent retreat near me?
RetreatFinder.com is a good starting point for your search. You can also simply search “silent retreats near me” to find a list of suggestions. It’s imperative that you do your research to be sure the location you are visiting has everything you need to relax and disconnect. Also take into consideration what it is you are hoping to gain from your getaway, so you can find a place that is in line with your goals.
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