Unplugged, Unrushed, Unbothered (Mostly): My Time at The Retreat Costa Rica

There was a time when I moved through life with ease—when everything felt aligned.

I felt connected to myself, grounded in my body. I moved with intention. I nourished my body in ways that felt good, not just convenient. I knew how to pause—how to care for myself before showing up for everyone else.

But somewhere between the back-to-back meetings, endless inbox pings, and the ever-growing to-do lists, I lost my rhythm. I didn’t fall apart—I just faded a little. Then a lot. Then completely. Into productivity. Into performance. Into “I’ll rest when this is done.”

So when I finally took a sabbatical, I wasn’t looking for a breakthrough—at first. I was looking for a breather.

A Breather on a Hilltop

The Retreat Costa Rica is beautiful, yes—but more importantly, it’s welcoming. From the moment I arrived, the energy of the place felt calm and kind. The staff greeted me like they already knew what I needed (they kind of did), and the atmosphere made it easy to slow down without forcing it. The views were incredible, but it was the warmth of the people, the loud encouragement to relax, and the gentle pace of each day that made the biggest impact. It was the kind of space where stillness didn’t feel like something I had to earn—it just existed, and I was invited to enjoy it.

How I (Mostly) Unplugged, Unrushed, and Got a Little Less Bothered

I didn’t come back transformed—but I came back lighter. More present. A little softer around the edges. The kind of person who breathes deeper without needing a reminder, who eats without multitasking, and who finally stopped treating rest like something to earn. Here’s what supported that shift:

The Practices That Helped Me Feel Like Me Again

Each day at The Retreat followed a gentle rhythm that started with morning yoga—sometimes focused on meditation and mindful movement, other times incorporating breath and gentle flow. The practice wasn’t about perfecting poses or pushing limits. It was about presence. About meeting myself right where I was, without needing to be anything more.

In the afternoons, restorative sessions invited even more softness—supported poses, hip openers, and long exhales I didn’t realize I was holding. Some days I showed up energized. Other days I was just tired. But no matter how I arrived, the space made it okay to be exactly that.

I also experienced Sound Energy Healing—a deeply calming 60-minute session that left me feeling almost weightless. It felt like my body was resetting itself, no effort required. The stillness lingered long after the last sound faded.

These weren’t extras—they were anchors. Gentle practices that helped me ground, breathe, and reconnect with myself at a pace that felt natural.

A 2022 meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports found that breath-focused interventions like these significantly reduced stress and improved emotional well-being. Additional studies in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience show that slow breathing and mindful movement support nervous system regulation and increase heart rate variability—an important marker of emotional resilience.

But honestly, I wasn’t thinking about metrics—I was thinking, this feels like the first time I’ve truly slowed down in years. I wasn’t looking for a breakthrough—I just needed a soft place to land.

Bodywork That Met Me Where I Was

The Retreat’s spa services were more than pampering—they were part of the healing. After so much “doing” in regular life, simply receiving felt like its own kind of medicine.

The Heaven on Earth Massage lived up to its name: 60 minutes of tension melting, lymphatic support, and pure calm. It helped me feel more in my body and less in my head. The Maharani Milk Bath Ritual was like a gentle reset for my skin and nervous system—hydrating, softening, and completely soothing.

But the treatment that surprised me most was the Abhyanga Ayurvedic Herbal Oil Massage. Over the course of 90 minutes, warm herbal oil was massaged into my skin in rhythmic strokes designed to stimulate circulation, support detoxification, and tone the muscles. It felt grounding, holistic, and deeply intentional—like my body was being reminded how to care for itself again.

None of it felt performative. Each experience met me right where I was: tired, open, and ready to feel good without needing to earn it.

Food, But Make It Healing

And then there was the food—because even rest can benefit from some fuel.

Every meal at The Retreat was anti-inflammatory, organic, and made with care. Not the kind of care that feels precious or performative—just real, intentional nourishment that tasted like someone actually wanted me to feel good. I didn’t have to decode a menu or wonder if I’d still be hungry afterward. I sat down, ate slowly, and left the table feeling more like a person—and less like a machine.

It was the first time in a long while that eating didn’t feel like multitasking. No emails, no rushed bites between meetings, no standing in the kitchen with a spoon and a deadline. Just meals I could look forward to. Meals that made me feel… cared for. Seen, even. Like my body mattered more.

One afternoon, I joined the Wellness Cooking Class—a relaxed, 45-minute group lesson where we learned how to prepare simple, anti-inflammatory meals. It was hands-on, approachable, and genuinely fun. I walked away with tips I could actually use back home, but more than that, I left feeling empowered to keep nourishing myself beyond the retreat setting. It turned out that the food wasn’t just healing—it was also something I could continue to give myself.

Most of us already know that food affects how we feel—but I could really feel it. A 2022 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that anti-inflammatory diets—rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains—can reduce inflammation and support overall well-being. Research published in Nature Mental Health also shows that a balanced gut microbiome (the kind supported by food like this) is linked to greater emotional resilience and stress recovery.

Still, I wasn’t thinking about nutrients or gut bacteria—I was just grateful to feel grounded, fed, and finally… not in a rush.

Community, But No Pressure

I came alone, which is something I’ve grown more comfortable with over time. I arrived expecting deep rest, restorative experiences, and nourishing food—that was the intention. I wasn’t there to “find myself” or have big emotional breakthroughs. I definitely wasn’t there to make friends.

But then something unexpected happened.

Every night, I gathered for dinner around a long table with strangers. Most of us had come solo, and not everyone was there for the same reason. A few were simply on holiday. Others were navigating something more personal—like healing from a potentially fatal illness, recovering from a divorce, or taking a breather from high-intensity work, like one ER nurse in the group. We came from different cultural backgrounds, stages of life, and emotional bandwidths.

And somehow, it worked. The conversations were thoughtful but never heavy. Present, but not committal. We weren’t trying to fix or carry each other—just connect, gently and without expectation. We laughed. We listened. Some things we skimmed, others we sank into. It felt grounded, generous, and surprisingly nourishing.

It was serendipitous. The right mix of people, at the right time. I wouldn’t say it’s guaranteed—but if you arrive open, there’s a certain magic that can happen when strangers are all quietly choosing presence over performance.

And if connection doesn’t happen? That’s okay, too. The beauty of this kind of space is that it gives you exactly what you need—whether that’s community, solitude, or something in between.

What This Experience Gently Reminded Me

• Rest doesn’t need to be earned. You are always worthy of slowing down, even when the world says otherwise.

• Stillness isn’t lazy—it’s clarifying. It makes space for truth to rise to the surface, without the noise of constant doing.

• Food is a powerful part of healing. How we eat—slowly, intentionally, with care—is just as important as what we eat.

• A few small rituals, done regularly, can shift everything. You don’t need a dramatic overhaul—just consistent, thoughtful moments that help you feel more like yourself.

• When you’re intentional about your environment and open to the experience, what you need has a way of finding you. For me, it came in the form of deep rest, gentle healing, and unexpected community. For you, it might show up differently—and that’s the beauty of it.

Final Reflection

The Retreat Costa Rica wasn’t the whole of my sabbatical story—but it was a meaningful chapter. A quiet pause. A soft reset. A place that moved me more into alignment and feeling like myself again.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or disconnected from your own rhythm, I hope you find a space like this—one that meets you gently, wherever you are. Whether it’s a week away or a weekend unplugged, you deserve time that supports your well-being, not just your schedule.

And while no place holds all the answers, the right environment can offer something just as valuable: a sense of steadiness, care, and enough space to feel a little more like yourself again. That alone can be transformative.

Reclaim Your Well-Being & Purpose: The Transformative Power of a Sabbatical

Somewhere along the way, my life sped up. It got so fast, so tough, so overwhelming, that I stopped asking myself the simplest question: How am I really doing?Slowing down isn’t the solution—it’s the first step. Stillness reveals what we’ve been pushing through, ignoring, or numbing. Only then can we begin the renewal process—whether that means deep rest, reconnecting with ourselves, or making intentional shifts in how we live and work.

For years, I thought I could outwork exhaustion. I had been raised to believe that if you were on time, you were late. If you weren’t pushing yourself to the limit, you weren’t doing enough. That mindset carried me through school, into my career, and eventually into more than a decade in the tech industry—where I was constantly juggling back-to-back deadlines, global meetings at odd hours, and the pressure to always be available. I convinced myself that a weekend getaway or an extra hour of sleep would be enough to recharge. It never was.

Then came the moment I didn’t see coming—an organizational restructuring and elimination of my role. Suddenly, I had a choice: immediately throw myself into the stress of job hunting or do something I had never done before—pause. I chose the latter. I took a sabbatical.

At the time, it felt risky. Looking back, it reshaped how I view and experience work, rest, and what really matters.

Why Slowing Down Is the First Step to Renewal

Burnout doesn’t just mean feeling tired—it impacts everything from mental clarity to physical health. But the reality is, many of us don’t even realize how exhausted we are until we pause.

Research shows that chronic stress affects every system in the body. The World Health Organization has classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon, linking it to long-term physical and mental health consequences. But here’s the thing: you can’t renew what you don’t acknowledge.

Stepping away—even briefly—gives you a clearer picture of your true state:

• Emotional well-being – Are you feeling disconnected? Overwhelmed? Like you’re running on autopilot?

• Physical health – Are you constantly fatigued? Struggling with sleep? Experiencing more aches, tension, or headaches than usual?

• Mental clarity – Are you sharp and engaged, or foggy and unfocused?

Once you understand where you truly are, you can start making the shifts that will actually recalibrate you.

What I Got Right (and What I Got Wrong)

I’ll be honest—I didn’t do everything “right” on my sabbatical. I booked flights with no real plan, overfilled my schedule in some places, and spent too much time in my head in others. But it was still one of the most renewing experiences of my life.

During my time away, I traveled to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Joshua Tree, and more. I spent time in nature, practiced yoga, reconnected with my body, and finally allowed myself to just be.

But what I didn’t plan for was guilt. The feeling that I should be ‘doing’ more never fully left me, even as I tried to embrace the pause.

I thought stepping away from work would feel freeing, but instead, I often felt like I wasn’t doing enough. There was a voice in my head constantly whispering:

💭 Am I wasting time?
💭 Am I falling behind?
💭 Should I be more productive?
💭 What will people think when they see a gap on my resume?

Even when I was surrounded by stunning landscapes and finally getting the deep rest I needed, I found myself feeling uneasy about not being “useful.” That’s when I realized how deeply ingrained hustle culture was in me.

I wasn’t just taking a break from work—I was unlearning years of conditioning that told me my worth was tied to my productivity.

Over time, I learned to sit with that discomfort and ask myself better questions:

• What if my value isn’t tied to my output?

• What if slowing down is actually the key to doing my best work?

• What if I return to work with greater clarity, purpose, and energy than I’ve ever had before?

Letting go of guilt wasn’t immediate, but it was one of the most important lessons of my sabbatical.

What the Research Says (and What I Actually Felt)

We often wait until we’re completely burned out before we consider stepping away—but science (and my own body) made it clear: stress doesn’t just pass through us. It stays, it builds, and eventually, it demands to be acknowledged.

Research shows that prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol is linked to:

• Cognitive Decline – Chronic stress weakens the prefrontal cortex, affecting memory, focus, and decision-making. A Neurology study found that individuals with higher cortisol levels performed worse on cognitive tests, linking stress to early brain aging.

• Increased Inflammation – Stress triggers inflammation, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. NIH research shows that chronic stress elevates inflammatory markers, increasing long-term health risks.

• Chronic Fatigue – Work-related stress leaves professionals drained. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 79% of workers report experiencing job-related stress, with fatigue being one of the most common symptoms.

A sabbatical isn’t just time off—it can be a reset for your body, your mind, and your pace. Studies show that extended breaks help regulate the nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and enhance mental clarity. Those who take sabbaticals often report greater job satisfaction, creativity, and productivity upon returning.

During my time away, I experienced firsthand how small, intentional habits made a difference. Headspace helped me incorporate mindfulness and breathwork, while The Five Minute Journal became a grounding practice to track my thoughts and perspective shifts.

A sabbatical isn’t about abandoning responsibilities—it’s about reclaiming your well-being, energy, and clarity so you can move forward with intention.

How a Sabbatical Helped Me Renew My Health and Purpose

During my sabbatical, I reconnected with the habits that once made me feel my best—habits I had abandoned in the pursuit of productivity. I also picked up new rituals and daily practices that helped me feel more grounded, supported, and present. I prioritized sleep, nourished my body with wholesome food, and spent time in nature. My stress levels decreased significantly. Most importantly, I rediscovered what truly mattered to me beyond deadlines and deliverables.

When I finally felt ready to explore new professional opportunities, I came back not just rested but clear on my boundaries and values. I didn’t want to rush into just any job—I wanted true alignment with my purpose.

Why More People Should Consider an Unplugged Sabbatical

If you’re feeling depleted, running on autopilot, or disconnected from yourself, you’re not alone. Burnout has become a global epidemic, especially among high-achieving professionals. Taking a sabbatical may feel radical—but what’s truly radical is pushing yourself to the point of breakdown.

A sabbatical isn’t about abandoning your responsibilities; it’s about reclaiming your energy and making intentional choices for your present and future.

Closing Reflection

When my career took an unexpected plot twist, my pause became about more than just work. I had a choice: continue the cycle or take a step back and rethink how I wanted to move forward. I chose to pause. That decision—to prioritize rest, reflection, and renewal—refreshed how I relate to work, success, and well-being. That’s why I believe so strongly in the power of stepping away—and why I created Solaris Global Pathways.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. A sabbatical won’t magically solve everything, but it creates the space to reimagine what truly matters.

Your well-being deeply matters. And if you’ve been powering through, maybe now is a good time to gently step back—and remember what feeling good actually feels like.

✨ Coming soon: The Unplugged Sabbatical Blueprint—a thoughtful guide to creating the kind of pause that supports your nervous system, honors your needs, and helps you re-engage life with intention.