Solo but Not Lonely: Why Retreating Alone Might Be Exactly What You Need

For many women, the idea of going on a retreat alone stirs up a quiet mix of longing and fear. It sounds peaceful. Luxurious, even. But it also sounds… a little intimidating.

What if it’s awkward? What if it’s lonely? What if I don’t know what to do with myself?

Here’s the truth: the fear is normal, but the freedom on the other side of it is extraordinary. Choosing to retreat alone is not a sign that something is wrong. It’s often the clearest sign that you’re ready to come home to yourself.

Why Women Are Choosing to Go Alone

We spend so much of our lives being available. For work. For family. For partners, group chats, and shared calendars. Even our social downtime is often shared — and performed.

There’s a growing desire among women to create space that is entirely their own. Not to escape their lives, but to reconnect with themselves inside them.

Solo retreats are rising in popularity not because women are isolating, but because they are craving autonomy. They are craving quiet. They are craving the permission to rest without needing to explain or accommodate anyone else.

Solo Doesn’t Mean Isolated

At A Place to Pause, many of our guests come alone - not because they have to, but because they want to. They want to sleep when they feel tired, eat when they feel hungry, and read without conversation unless it feels welcome.

And while the experience is solo, it is never cold. You are gently welcomed, warmly hosted, and always surrounded by softness. There are others nearby, also moving slowly, also choosing stillness.

Connection happens naturally, if and when you want it. A quiet chat over breakfast. A shared book recommendation. A simple smile. But there’s no pressure to talk, to join in, or to justify your choices.

What Happens When You Give Yourself Space

There’s a particular kind of clarity that only arrives when you are alone in a space that feels safe. It’s not about thinking big thoughts or solving problems. It’s about finally having the chance to hear yourself again.

You notice what you’re drawn to. You move at your own rhythm. You stop bracing for interruption.

This isn’t loneliness. It’s self-presence.

You return to yourself not because you had a breakthrough, but because you made space for stillness. That space can be deeply nourishing, especially if you haven’t had it in a long time.

How to Know If a Solo Retreat Is Right for You

You don’t need to be an introvert. You don’t need to be going through something big. You don’t need to feel totally burnt out. This isn't a health retreat with psychologists and medical professionals.

You might simply feel the tug. That quiet sense of “I need something… just for me.”

Here are a few signs you might be ready:

• You’re craving quiet, but home doesn’t feel quiet anymore

• You’re exhausted by decisions and expectations

• You miss reading, sleeping, daydreaming, or just doing nothing

• You feel most like yourself when you’re alone, but rarely get the chance

• You’ve been fantasising about “getting away” for longer than you want to admit

If any of these sound familiar, a solo retreat might be the most loving choice you can make.

What You’ll Actually Do

It’s not about “doing” — it’s about being.

You’ll wake when your body tells you to. You’ll drink coffee or tea without multitasking. You’ll read for pleasure, not progress. You’ll walk without a destination. You’ll eat slowly, sleep deeply, and take up space without apology.

You might be nervous, you might chat, you might be silent, you might laugh like you are with old friends. You might feel nothing at all except calm. All of it is welcome.

You Won’t Be the Only One Going Alone

One of the biggest myths is that everyone else is coming with a friend. At our retreats, solo guests often make up the majority.

And something beautiful happens in that shared solitude. You begin to realise that needing time to yourself doesn’t make you strange or selfish. It makes you human.

Choosing a solo retreat doesn’t mean you don’t love your life. It means you love yourself enough to step away for a little while.

The Afterglow of Going Alone

What surprises many solo retreaters is how they feel when they return.

More grounded. More patient. More clear on what matters — and what doesn’t.

There’s no pressure to “transform” on a solo retreat. Just the invitation to listen, rest, and return to your life with a little more softness.

And that, in itself, is powerful.