How To DIY Your Own Health-Minded Wellness Retreat This Year

Along with the new year is a whole new chance to center yourself, and breaking away from the norm is one of the best ways to do it. If you're eyeing a reset but signing up for a 10-day yoga retreat abroad isn’t in the cards this year, don't worry: Accessible wellness resorts like Sunrise Springs are making it easier than ever to experience the full range of R&R for body, mind, and soul over a long weekend (or more!) away. Read on for four tips to plan your own: 

Sure, any trip can offer an escape from the daily grind. But purposefully deciding your reasoning for your time away and what you hope to get out of it can turn a mindless vacation into a more intentional, fruitful one. Whether it's to learn how to embrace change, calm a restless mind, kick-start a healthy habit, or just catch up on reading (who says it has to be deep?), think of your travel intention as a sort of personal North Star for your well-being. Here are some thought starters:

Bring along a journal to help you revisit and reflect on your intention and the things you're learning about yourself along the way. Journaling your thoughts at the end of each day can be a great way to guide yourself closer and closer to your goals.

Turns out, the vacations that evoke the most fascination tend to be situated in natural landscapes or offer a bit of uniqueness—in other words, they've just got that special something. A stay at Sunrise Springs, an Ojo Resort in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the best of both worlds: It's nestled in the lush high desert between the Sangre de Cristo and Ortiz mountains in New Mexico's capital (meaning it's also easily accessible), and it's the only natural springs spa destination in the area. The resort envelops you in 70 acres of peaceful gardens, spring-fed water, hiking trails, and gorgeous high desert landscape—an ideal setting for recharging body and mind.

At Sunrise Springs, our first choice would be to go for a soothing soak in the new Ojitos open-air repose pools neighboring the natural, spring-fed pond that's surrounded by towering cottonwoods, followed by heading straight to the puppy studio (this is for real) for the best kind of stress relief. Of course, you can also book a bodywork or skin care treatment at the wellness spa, where you'll find a myriad of restorative Eastern and Western therapies including acupuncture and sleep and stress consultations. Need more ideas? Indulge in a sweat inside the eucalyptus steam room, or take a serene moment in the property's greenhouse or on the trails.

Practicing healthy habits (staying hydrated; eating fresh, whole foods; moving your body—you know the drill) during your retreat is key for coming home actually feeling renewed and invigorated, not exhausted and hungover. Ideally, you're spending time in a destination that gives you lots of opportunities to take your well-being to the next level in deeper or novel ways—and we're not just talking SUP yoga. Keep these three things in mind: