What do you get when you combine your girls, a beautiful villa in Park City, Utah, and a snowstorm? The perfect self-care weekend. That’s how I spent one of my last weekends of 2019, and why you should start planning yours for 2020 (minus the snowstorm of course).
Why? Self-care is ranked as one of the top New Year’s resolutions for 2020 and for good reason. After all, taking care of yourself makes you better able to handle challenges at work, be a better friend and family member, and give more of your positive energy to the world.
A weekend of self-care encompasses a few things: clearing your mind, releasing from technology and indulging in moments for year-long health and happiness. Add your homegirls, and you’ve got a weekend of belly aching laughter, girl talk, reflection, meditation and more.
When planning a self-care weekend, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First, the purpose is to relax. No crazy itineraries. No drama. Simply good vibes, and great activities. The idea is to leave rejuvenated, refreshed and renewed.
Here’s how I planned a wellness girls’ weekend, and how you can too, anywhere in the world.
Where:
The goal is peace, so opt to stay somewhere that not only has beautiful scenery, but will calm your mind. Staying in a villa automatically puts you in a vacation frame of mind, and it’s not as expensive as having to dish out a lot of cash for multiple hotel rooms if you’ve got a big group. We opted for a Marriott villa in Park City, Utah for a ski weekend and it couldn’t have been more perfect for our group of 10. Oh, and it’s probably one of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever stayed in in my life.
If you’re traveling with a larger group also, Homes & Villas by Marriott International has a stunning collection of luxury homes that make for the perfect backdrop. Whether you unplug at a waterfront cottage in Maine or retreat to a treehouse among the Costa Rican jungle, Homes & Villas by Marriott International can be booked using Marriott Bonvoy points and is perfectly paired with Marriott Bonvoy Moments for a complete luxury wellness experience.
They even take the guesswork of planning with Marriott Bonvoy Moments for everyone to enjoy.
What:
We had one rule: everyone could do whatever self-care looked like for them. Whether that was sleeping, getting a massage or simply getting in the hot tub for some R&R time. The house was huge, and we could spend as much —or as little — time together as we desired (our bond holds tight so we opted for lots and lots of quality time).
Of course, there was a planned itinerary to lay the groundwork, but this weekend was about them, not me. The first thing we did was add some holiday cheer to the space with throw pillows, candles and diffusers from Marshalls to get us in the holiday vibe.
Our blissful weekend then included snow activities, yoga, journaling, and a white elephant gift exchange where participants had to spend $50 or less on their self-care gifts (also all purchased from Marshalls). While some gifts were sillier than others, there were a collection of gifts such as massagers, candles, cookbooks, blankets, meditation books and more.
Everyone left with a piece of the weekend to remember — which made it especially special. For your wellness weekend planning you can add this as an extra touch.
Days and nights were also filled laughs, cooking meals together, playing games until the wee hours of the morning and of course good sleep.
Who
Perhaps the most simple aspect of your wellness trip planning is deciding who all will be attending. When deciding on the crew, make sure you invite your closest girlfriends, who also are the ones who leave the drama at the door. Your weekend should be filled with good vibes, good laughs, good food and good conversation.
If you do it right, your weekend will feel just as good as a week-long celebration out of the country.