Somewhere between taking care of everyone else, kids, parents, partners, coworkers, even the dog, most women quietly disappear from their own to do lists. It’s not dramatic, just a slow fade. You start skipping the morning walk. You tell yourself you’ll get back to yoga “when things calm down.” Spoiler: they never really do.
It’s not just a feeling either. According to the American Psychological Association, women consistently report higher levels of stress than men, and we’re far less likely to take time for ourselves to recover from it. In fact, research from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that nearly 70 percent of women say they put others’ needs before their own health. We’re caretakers by instinct and by culture. But the cost? Chronic fatigue. Anxiety. A constant hum of guilt that you should be doing more, even while running on fumes.
So here’s the radical idea: stop trying to do more. Step away completely for a few days.
The Power of Retreating
A retreat isn’t a luxury. It’s a recalibration. When you remove yourself from the daily grind and surround yourself with women who get it, women who also juggle jobs, families, and the impossible expectations of “having it all”, something shifts.
At Big Raven Farm, we see it happen every single time. Women arrive with tight shoulders and cluttered thoughts. By day two, laughter fills the kitchen. They’re sleeping better, eating well, and remembering what it feels like to create or move just for the joy of it.
You can call it mindfulness, sisterhood, or just breathing room, but it works. There’s research to back that up too. Studies show that time spent in nature, creative activity, and social connection lowers cortisol levels and boosts mood and clarity. Combine all three, and you’ve got the foundation for true self care, not the “bubble bath and candles” version, but the kind that restores your nervous system.
Why We Resist Taking Care of Ourselves
You’d think we’d be the first to sign up for a little rest, right? But we’re often the last.
Why? Guilt.
It’s that sneaky emotion that convinces us rest is selfish, that slowing down somehow means we’re letting someone down. Guilt is such a deeply woven thread in women’s lives that many of us can’t even identify it anymore, it just hums in the background, shaping our choices.
We learn it young. Be helpful. Be kind. Be available. By adulthood, we’re fluent in putting ourselves last. And when we finally think about taking time for ourselves, like attending a women’s retreat, the guilt kicks in: Who’s going to handle dinner? What if the kids need something? What will work think?
So instead of stepping away, we push through. We pour one more cup of coffee, make one more list, and convince ourselves it’s “just not the right time.” But the truth is, there’s never a perfect time. The laundry will still be there. The inbox won’t empty itself. Life won’t hand you a window of peace, you have to create it.
Here’s the twist: the very thing we think is selfish (taking care of ourselves) is what makes us more patient, more creative, and more present when we return home. The guilt starts to fade when we realize that caring for ourselves doesn’t take away from others, it gives to them, through a better, more grounded version of us.
What Happens When Women Gather
There’s something almost magical about women gathering in a space built just for them. It’s more than relaxation, it’s recognition.
At Big Raven Farm, you can feel it as soon as you step through the doors. Conversations start over coffee and stretch long into the night. You’ll see women sitting side by side at the art table, quietly lost in the rhythm of cutting, gluing, and painting. Others roll out yoga mats and breathe deeply for the first time in months. The pace slows, and in that stillness, we remember who we are beneath the noise.
And it’s not just emotional, it’s physical. Studies from Stanford University and the Mayo Clinic show that meaningful connection, creative activity, and time in nature can lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve mental health. Your body knows how to heal. It just needs space to do it.
By the time Sunday morning breakfast rolls around, women look different. Shoulders have dropped. Faces have softened. There’s a lightness that wasn’t there before. That’s not marketing fluff, it’s what happens when you finally give yourself permission to pause.
2026 Women’s Retreats at Big Raven Farm
If your body just whispered “yes,” you’ll be happy to know there’s a full calendar of retreats for women in 2026 at Big Raven Farm in Minnesota. Each one offers something unique, but all share the same heartbeat, rest, creativity, and community.
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Art for Everyday Joy – Discover the beauty in mixed media collage using repurposed materials.
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Yoga’s Path to Inner Peace – Reset your mind and body with gentle movement and mindful reflection.
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Awaken Your Magic – A blend of yoga, art, and tarot for those craving spiritual connection and creative play.
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Eco Printing and Cyanotype Retreat – Work with nature itself to create stunning botanical art.
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Elevate Your Plate Cooking Retreats – Hands on culinary experiences that nourish from the inside out.
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Art for Self Care – Explore how nature, journaling, and simple art practices help you slow down and reconnect.
Each retreat is intentionally small, intimate enough that everyone feels seen and supported. You’ll share meals, stories, and probably a few tears of release (the good kind). You’ll leave with new friends, full notebooks, and a steadier heart.
What You Take Home (Besides Art Projects and Memories)
Something powerful happens when you disconnect from daily life for a few days. You return not only rested, but reoriented. The small stresses that once felt huge start to shrink. You remember that your worth isn’t measured by productivity, and that creativity isn’t frivolous, it’s fuel.
And maybe most importantly, you bring that calm energy home. Your people notice. They feel it in your tone, your patience, your laughter. You’ve filled your own cup, and that overflow naturally pours into the lives around you.
That’s what we mean when we say a retreat makes a difference. It’s not just a weekend, it’s a reset button for your whole life.
Maybe It’s Time
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to take care of yourself, this is it. Your family, your work, your world, they’ll all still be there when you get back. But you will be different. Calmer. Clearer. More you.
Come join us at Big Raven Farm and remember what it feels like to be taken care of, for a change.