Store My Library
Video Poster Image
Bios We Carry ยท A Personal Retreat

Preparing your
retreat space

Everything you need to gather, choose, and do before day one begins.

You're here. And I want you to sit with that for just a moment.

In a world that is constantly asking you to produce, perform, and show up for everyone else โ€” you chose to show up for yourself. That's not a small thing. That's actually the whole point of what we're about to do together.

But before we begin, I need you to do something that might feel unfamiliar.

I need you to prepare.

A word from Nicole

"This is not a webinar you watch between meetings. This is not content you consume while eating lunch or folding laundry. This is a retreat โ€” a small, private, intentional one โ€” and it deserves the same care you would give any space you were walking into to do sacred work. Because that's what this is."

You have two weeks from today to complete your three days. There is no rush. But there is a container โ€” and honoring that container is the first act of the retreat.

What to gather before day one

Take a few days to pull these things together. Some you already have. Some you may need to pick up. All of it matters.

A candle
Something that smells like comfort and safety to you. Cedar, vanilla, citrus, florals โ€” whatever signals to your nervous system that you are allowed to slow down.
Something cozy to wear or wrap around you
A soft blanket, a favorite sweater, your most comfortable clothes. You are not showing up for anyone else during these 90 minutes. Dress for how you want to feel โ€” held, soft, at home in yourself.
A journal and a pen you love
Not your work notebook. Not a notes app. Something that feels like it belongs to you โ€” not your role, not your institution, not your title. If you don't have one, this is your permission to go get one.
Something warm to drink
Tea, coffee, cacao, warm water with lemon. Whatever you reach for when you are taking care of yourself โ€” not fueling yourself for the next task, but actually caring for yourself.
A quiet space โ€” 90 minutes that belong only to you
Let the people around you know you are unavailable. Close the door. Put your phone face down โ€” or better yet, in another room. You cannot do this work and be on call at the same time.
Your professional bio
Your website blurb, your LinkedIn about section, your institution's faculty or staff page โ€” wherever the public version of you lives. Have it pulled up and ready before you begin day one.
Two colored highlighters
If you're printing your bio โ€” any two colors work. If you're working digitally, two highlight colors in your notes app or Google Doc will do. You'll understand why on day one.

Choose your three days โ€” right now, before you close this page

Open your calendar. Find three evenings โ€” or three mornings, if that's when you're most yourself. They don't need to be consecutive, but closer together holds the energy better. Block 90 minutes each.

Then write those three dates in your journal. Not in your calendar app. In your journal. There's something about writing it by hand that makes it a commitment rather than a task.

A note on timing

Early morning before the house wakes up. An evening after dinner when the day has wound down. A quiet Sunday afternoon with the door closed. Whenever you are most yourself โ€” least performed, least needed, most present โ€” that is your retreat time. Protect it like it matters. Because it does.

You are not doing this alone

While you're preparing โ€” and all the way through your three days โ€” there's a community of women doing this retreat alongside you.

Your cohort community is already open

There are women in this community right now who are in the same place you are โ€” gathering their things, choosing their days, getting ready. Go introduce yourself. You don't need to share anything deep yet. Just say hello. Tell us where you are. We're here, and we're glad you came.

Throughout your three days, the community will be a place to share what's surfacing, to read what others are finding, and to remember that this work โ€” as interior as it is โ€” does not have to be done in isolation.

When you have gathered your things and chosen your days, you are ready to begin.

Day one is waiting for you. I'll see you there.

โ€” Nicole

When you're ready

I'm ready โ€” take me to Day One

You have two weeks. Come when you've prepared your space.