Embrace The Unplugged Life
Trading screens for ocean waves
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Dear Friend
How are you today?
I’m taking a moment to be present, to try and feel grounded, to enjoy the month of May, even though it’s my busiest month of the year so far. I’m hosting three retreats, my latest “Rage on a Page” program is in it’s 7th week, my “Journal with Ease” weekly workshops is gaining momentum, I’ve got a list of local IRL events and a live Q&A over on zoom with a variety of seasoned writers coming up. Phew, I’m not quite sure how I’m actually spinning all the plates. But I am. I just get up each day and ‘DO’. But today I realised, I’m not pausing for thought and enjoying the rollercoaster ride even though at times it can be super stressful and overwhelming as a company of one.
As I ponder over my busy schedule, I’ll let you into a little secret, the run up to every retreat or event that I host is where the real magic happens, for me at least. Whether it’s a writing retreat in a converted barn in the Oxfordshire countryside or a digital detox weekend at a beach house tucked along the Welsh coastline, I love the pace of life during the build up to the retreats. It’s not for everyone, but I thrive off the heftiness of it all.
I go from checking in with the creative experts and authors to ensure they have everything they need last minute, to liaising with suppliers such as my caterers and venue hosts to packing the goody bags and making final adjustments so the day/weekend runs a smooth as a baby’s bottom. For my coastal retreats, I love stocking up on strong ‘builders’ tea - usually Yorkshire Tea, artisan coffee, fresh baked goods, flowers, candles, magazines, books, nourishing local produce and plush blankets for my guests to cosy up by the fire or for when they sitting by the shoreline to watch the sun rise.
As my guests arrive as strangers, I encourage them to mooch about the venue, make it a 'home from home’ space. Once settles, jolly chatter and giggles fill the living spaces. Over the weekend each guest relaxes, sharing their untold stories, joining coastal walks, immersing themselves in reflective time through the practice of journaling and somehow, an atmosphere where presence and human connection are prioritised, is created and I adore capturing it from a far.
I love to watch these friendships bloom and individuals transform through the experience of attending a writing retreat or digital detox weekend, it’s the best place for any woman to rekindle her creative spark and reignite her lust for life.
So if you find yourself utterly depleted from the relentless onslaught of digital overwhelm, craving a return to tranquility and presence, then you might enjoy my upcoming Digital Detox weekend retreat by the coast.
Can you recall the last time you awakened to the solitary sound of ocean waves calmly kissing the shore, rather than the frantic buzzing of push notifications? Or evenings spent without the blue glow of screens, allowing yourself to fully bask in the glowing lights of a beach house fireplace, surrounded by the intoxicating scents of salt air and twinkling candles?
I’m in the planning stages of my October Digital Detox weekend retreat and I get goosebumps every time I start to prepare and plan for it. For you, it’s a restorative experience. No buzzing devices, no scroll holes to slip into, just vast stretches of space and silence to finally exhale into.
Each day will contain ample opportunity for you to reacquaint with analog pleasures, such as reading, writing, walking, swimming, journaling, feasting, snoozing, daydreaming. Taking the time to savour piping hot cups of herbal tea and lose yourself in the delicious flow of "going slow”.
“Out here amongst the waves, there are no news feeds to scroll, no alerts claiming my attention. There is only presence”
By the end of our time together, you’ll be amazed at the profound relaxation, mental clarity and zest for life that emerges when you honour your need to unplug from constant connection. My hope for you is that after attending an ease retreat, you’ll return to your daily existence replenished, realigned and with a renewed reverence for investing in a regular digital detox practice, and guess what… therapeutic journaling is a springboard to all of this goodness. There is nothing quite like journaling the hours away on a digital detox weekend by the sea.
If you’d like to join the waiting list for my upcoming digital detox weekend, please email hello@easeretreats.com - your future self will be grateful you did.
Until the next time
Take care and stay safe xx
About me… I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats. I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK. I’m also a therapeutic journaling coach and through my program Rage on a Page, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club called Journal with Ease and it’s free for paid subscribers to attend. If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, please reach out and connect. I’m usually on a beach walking the dogs, hosting retreats or hanging out here on Substack.