If you’re a leader of a company, this topic could hit close to home: busyness. Many leaders live in a whirlwind of fragmented schedules, constant pressure, and an endless stream of complexity. And what’s the go-to response? Work harder. Push faster. Cram more into the day. After all, isn’t that how you get results?
But here’s the hard truth: this “do more, go faster” mindset—born out of the industrial revolution—doesn’t really work anymore. It drains clarity, upsets balance and leaves us feeling disconnected from the very purpose that got us here in the first place.
Consider something different. Something that helps us hit pause, reconnect with our own inner wisdom, and lead with our whole selves.
The consequences of busyness
Most leaders feel this constant pull to do more. We respond to chaos with even more activity, believing that more hours equals more progress. But here’s what really happens:
- We lose clarity. Constant multitasking and ping-ponging between notifications make deep thinking almost impossible.
- We lose balance. Our well-being, passions, and presence take a back seat—and we start running on fumes.
- We lose purpose. The pressure to be “always on” drowns out the deeper meaning behind our leadership.
And to make it worse, many of us feel guilty when our calendars aren’t jam-packed. Thinking time feels like slacking off. That guilt can morph into anxiety, ego-driven decision-making, and even paranoia—all things that make leadership harder, not easier.
Ten signs you might need a retreat
Take a quick self-check. Do any of these sound familiar?
- You can’t focus for more than an hour without getting distracted.
- A day without your phone, tablet, or laptop feels unthinkable.
- You check email during important meetings (and call it multitasking).
- Every year, more is expected of you—by your boss, your board, or your team.
- Even on vacation, you can’t fully unplug.
- You find yourself craving a simpler life.
- You can’t remember the last time you took a long walk in nature.
- You’re constantly reorganizing your team or systems.
- You’re facing problems that just seem… unsolvable.
- The rules of success keep changing faster than you can keep up.
If even a couple of these hit home, it might be time to step back and give yourself room to breathe.
A different way forward
So, what’s the antidote? It’s not about doing more; it’s about going deeper. The real solution lies in weaving a contemplative path into how we lead—one that helps us reconnect to our inner wisdom and bring our whole selves—mind, heart, and body—into the work.
Retreats are not just for monks in distant monasteries, nor do retreats have to involve vanishing for weeks to a remote island. A retreat can be as simple as a few quiet hours at home, a walk in the park, or a morning spent journaling in your favorite café. It can be a two-hour window of silence and solitude, right where you are. It’s about turning off your devices, letting go of your to-do list, and giving yourself permission to just be.
You might spend your mini-retreat reading, reflecting, or simply sitting in stillness. The magic is in the intention: to step away from the noise and rediscover your own clarity and balance.
What a retreat is (and isn’t): The surprising simplicity of stepping back
“A retreat, first and foremost, is a treat.”
A retreat is not about escaping your life or running away from responsibilities. It’s not a competition for who can meditate the longest, or a luxury reserved for the few. It’s not an endurance test or about ticking off a to-do list.
You don’t need to fly to Bali or book a remote cabin (unless you want to!). A retreat is simply a pause—a conscious choice to step out of the noise and reconnect with yourself, even if just for an afternoon. Retreats are about returning—to yourself, your purpose, and the kind of leader you actually want to be. When you give yourself the space to realign your mind, heart, and body, you unlock clarity, balance, and purpose—the foundations of true leadership.
You can start small, right where you are, and discover how even a short pause can bring clarity, balance, and a sense of renewal. Spend a couple of hours of silence and solitude in your favorite chair with your phone switched off.
So, what would it look like for you to step back, even just for a moment?
- Take the invitation. Give yourself permission to step away—whether that’s a half-hour with a notebook in a coffee shop or a weekend retreat in nature. These breaks are not indulgent; they’re essential. They’re where clarity and purpose start to resurface.
- Reconnect your three centers. Great leadership happens when your mind, heart, and body are all in sync. Ever been in a meeting where your body’s in the room, but your mind is already onto the next thing? Or powered through a project with zero enthusiasm? That’s what misalignment feels like. The contemplative path helps bring you back into coherence—fully present, balanced, and clear.
Journaling activity: The pause that leads
Set aside 20–30 minutes in a quiet space. Turn off your devices. Use pen and paper or a blank document—whatever feels most natural.
Step 1: Grounding
- Take a few deep breaths. Let your mind settle. Write down:
- What does busyness feel like in my body right now?
- What thoughts are looping in my head?
Step 2: Reflection prompts
Choose 3–5 of the following prompts to explore:
- When do I feel most aligned as a leader?
- What parts of my leadership feel disconnected or reactive?
- What am I avoiding by staying busy?
- What would a simpler day look like for me?
- What do I crave more of—stillness, space, creativity, presence?
- What’s one moment recently when I felt truly present? What made it possible?
- If I gave myself permission to pause, what might emerge?
Step 3: Mini-retreat vision
- A morning walk without your phone
- An hour in a café with just your journal
- A weekend unplugged in nature
- Write about:
- Where would I go?
- What would I do—or not do?
- What intention would I set for this time?
Imagine a retreat that fits your life right now. It could be:
So, if you’re craving a little more peace, don’t wait for the perfect moment or a faraway destination. Your retreat can begin today, right at home. All it takes is a little time, a quiet space, and the willingness to listen to yourself.