Beat burnout at these restorative wellness retreats
Exhausted from the pace of modern living? Restore body, mind and soul at a wellness retreat primed to alleviate burnout.
If there’s ever been a perfect time to embrace the idea of taking it slow, this is it.
Thanks to factors such as cost-of-living pressures, and people working more to compensate, burnout is a real worry for many Australians.
Recent research from Allianz Australia showed 33 per cent of people were feeling burnt out and fatigued at work.
And it seems Aussies are at the fore of workplace stress.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report has found we suffer some of the highest rates of stress in the world.
If this is something you can relate to, it could be time to take a restorative break.
Here are some wellness retreats designed to dismantle the building blocks of burnout so you can rebuild and reinforce yourself from within.
Samadhi Retreat, Glenlyon, Victoria
Relieve yourself of stress, fatigue and burnout in a luxurious, tranquil sanctuary that has been purpose-designed to promote healing.
The range of focused wellness programs at Samadhi Retreat includes the Energise retreat, aiming to help you re-enter the world with more energy and purpose; the Wholeness retreat, encouraging you to foster a deep connection with yourself and make positive life changes; and the Nurture retreat, for those who have been pushed to the limits of stress and fatigue.
Harmony Hill Health Retreat, Margate, Tasmania
Rest, recharge and reset amid the splendour of southern Tasmania’s serene mountainous bushland.
The focus at Harmony Hill Health Retreat is on stress relief and healing, and guests are ushered into rejuvenation with a choice of treatments and therapies ranging from meditation, massages and energy healing to reflexology, quantum healing and body detox mud treatments.
Those lucky enough to secure a stay at this exclusive retreat —Harmony Hill only welcomes three guests per week — can relish three, five or six nights of relaxation and plenty of “me time” as they unwind from life’s stressors in a beautiful, tranquil setting.
Soma, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Artfully ensconced within 9ha of rainforest a short drive from the inviting shores of Byron Bay, Soma is a sanctuary where frenetic minds can find calm and tightly wound bodies can soften.
Soma’s three-day Meditate retreat immerses guests in Vedic meditation, which is practised in a striking geodesic dome hemmed by forest.
The retreat empowers observation while building stress resilience, allowing you to find stillness within and a framework to draw on so you can find calm in uncomfortable situations when you return to the “real world”.
Billabong Retreat, Sydney, New South Wales
A short drive from Sydney’s CBD, but a world away from the negative effects its busyness can have on your mind, is a haven of quietude.
Here you can discover six retreat programs, including the Stress Relief retreat, which offers workshops, yoga and meditation to help you find calm and relaxation and build resilience to stress.
Learn about the importance of slowing down, the stress-busting tweaks you can make in your everyday life and the importance of a nutritious diet.
Yoga is the beating heart of Billabong Retreat, and daily flow classes will help you relax and explore the body-breath connection. Opt to stay in a deluxe cabin for a serene soak to end your day of insights.
Eden Health Retreat. Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland
With tech so heavily woven into our daily lives, those who feel the need to break free for a while will relish this retreat.
Guests are transported back to a simpler time, with no mobile reception on site providing an intoxicating sense of seclusion and release.
Each aspect of Eden is designed to give your body time and space to rest and recalibrate — from the nourishing food, luxurious accommodation and blissful spa treatments to soul-enriching activities such as yoga, pilates, sound healing, mud therapy and walks in nature.
More travel inspiration:
- 7 must-do Aussie escapes for your next long weekend
- 5 relaxing country escapes to help you unwind and recharge
- Purr-fect pet-friendly holiday destinations
- 6 ways to have a wellness holiday on a budget
Written by Sarah Vercoe.