You can never bet on the UK weather, so holding a seaside-based activities retreat at the end of September in the South West of England was always going to be a bit of a gamble, but the weather was kind and the retreat was a resounding success.
We love bringing together a group of people that have never met before and witnessing the magic that comes out of shared experiences, tasks and challenges. The aim is always about bringing more joy through creativity and sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone, doing something you wouldn’t usually do and embracing the feelings that come with that.
We always combine a mix of creative activities and challenges with the sole purpose of tapping into the feelings that creativity can unlock. It’s not about how well you can draw or write or paint. It’s purely about how it makes you feel when you let yourself go in the moment. It’s about using creativity as a strategy for wellbeing.
We Do Like to be Beside the Seaside
This 2-day retreat was held in the pretty little Devon seaside town of Teignmouth. Being by the sea in iself is a tonic. The sea air, the sound of the seagulls, the smell of fish and chips. Add a bit of creativity into the mix and you’ve got yourself a special antedote to life’s stresses.
Activities were a mix of individual and group activities, both classroom based and out and about on the sea front. From postcard writing and poetry to photography and painting, there was something for everyone.
Creativity at the Core
All of our retreats have creativity at their core. Having completed the Artist’s Way years ago, we were inspired to pass the power of creativity on and make it accessible and usable in the real world. We are so bogged down by everyday life – money, work, politics, relationships – that we neglect our own wellbeing and forget how to just be content in the moment and how to quiet the noise around us.
When you’re engrossed in a creative activity you aren’t thinking about work or the bills or the washing. You are creating positive emotions, new ways to tackle problems and improving your overall wellbeing.
Studies show that when you spend time doing creative things your overall sense of purpose, meaning, engagement and connection improves. And some of our past retreat attendees have said exactly that; doing the creative activities in a safe space with like-minded people has had a profound impact on their wellbeing and has lead them to flourish in other parts of their life.
You don’t have to be “good” at any of it. It’s not about how to draw/paint/write. It’s about why you should engage in creativity and the benefits creativity brings.
We never force people to share what they’ve done during the day. Whether it be a picture or a poem. But we’ve found that people want to share. And it’s amazing to watch people changing right in front of your eyes because they just discovered the joy of poetry. Or of watercolour paints. They’re unlocking their creativity and using it to feel content and joyful. It’s pure magic.
We’re currently running our online winter course, Daylight Saving Club and have lots of things in the pipeline for 2025. Make sure you sign up the newsletter for sneak peaks, more content and early bird offers. It might just change your life.