There was a point when even opening a blank Google Doc made my chest tight.
I wasn’t blocked. I was burnt out.
The kind of burnt out that makes even grocery lists feel like novels.
So I did something radical. I didn’t plan a 10-day getaway. I didn’t apply for a sabbatical.
I threw a hoodie in a tote bag and drove 90 minutes away from my to-do list.
And just like that—I remembered what creativity feels like.
🎨 What Actually Sparked the Shift?
It wasn’t the scenery. It wasn’t the silence.
It was the space—the kind of space where no one needed anything from me.
Not a snack. Not a strategy. Not a spreadsheet.
I walked through a museum alone, lingered by paintings too long, wrote messy notes in my phone without polishing them.
There was no “content plan.” No “angle.” Just play.
And the best part?
I didn’t go off-grid. I just gave myself permission to be unavailable.
🧳 The Power of the Mini-Retreat
We glamorize big, expensive retreats and Bali dreams. But sometimes, a 90-minute escape is all it takes to reset your brain.
What counts as a mini-retreat?
- A solo staycation in your own city
- A day pass to a creative coworking space
- A cabin with a journal and zero Wi-Fi
- A train ride somewhere new with no destination in mind
It’s not about the location—it’s about liberating your brain from the constant noise.
“Creativity doesn’t die—it just drowns in responsibility.”
— Julia Cameron, Author of “The Artist’s Way”
🧘🏾♀️ Why It Works
When you get space from your everyday roles, your brain slips into default mode network—aka the place where daydreams, insight, and innovation live.
You’re no longer reacting. You’re remembering.
- That you love color.
- That you write better in silence.
- That your ideas get louder when your phone’s quieter.
🔁 Want to Reignite Your Own Spark?
Here’s your no-excuse Mini-Retreat Starter Pack:
- Pick a date—no rescheduling.
- Choose ONE activity that inspires you (museum, hike, writing session, bookstore wandering).
- Leave your obligations at the door. This day is not for fixing. It’s for feeling.
- Document what surprised you. The weird thought, the new idea, the part of yourself that came alive again.
You’ll return with more energy than a double shot of espresso—and this time, it’s sustainable.
💭 Final Thought:
Creativity isn’t a luxury.
It’s a lifeline.
And sometimes, all it takes to plug back in… is driving 90 minutes away from everything that’s draining you.
