Shhhhh! We’re heading to a silent retreat. Never heard of a silent retreat? Well, listen carefully. Like other forms of retreats, a silent retreat is a set period of time in which participants escape to a shared location to participate in an activity (or activities) with one another for a common purpose.
Unlike nearly any other retreat, a silent retreat offers a chance for an exceptional level of quiet. Generally in serene locations, often amongst natural beauty, a silent retreat offers complete silence—no phones, no chit chat, and plenty of time for self-reflection and mindfulness practice.
What to expect at a silent retreat
- No talking: If you start making small talk, you’ll likely be asked to please stop attempting to communicate with others who are attempting to focus on their own goals. That includes no speaking or writing either.
- Mindfulness: Meditation and mindfulness go hand-in-hand with silent retreats. There might be guided meditations, solo practice, or a combination of both.
- Simplicity: Whether the silent retreat is at a cabin in the woods or an inner-city spa, accommodations will likely be basic and free of additional luxuries, indulgences, and other distractions.
- Life unplugged: There may be journaling or reading of mantras or poetry, but you likely won’t be encouraged to crack the spine of the latest dragon romantasy. Ditto for scrolling through your phones or laptops.
Why embrace the quiet
- Achieve mental clarity: Free of the constant noise of your everyday life, you can allow your mind to rest and reset.
- Lower your stress: Disconnecting from work, relationships, and other daily obligations can give you a chance to take a deep breath and actually relax.
- Invite emotional processing: Silence and mindfulness gives your mind the necessary space to process life events and big emotions.
- Gain greater self-awareness: Without the usual onslaught of distractions, you can achieve a better sense of self, including how you feel about your life and the world around you.
How aloSIM can help
Since it’s standard practice to deter attendees from using their mobile devices while at a silent retreat, there may still be reasons you need to stay connected (emergencies do happen, unfortunately). Here’s how aloSIM can help, even during a digital detox:
- In case you’re travelling to a destination that’s remote or has no access to wifi, before your silent retreat, set up an aloSIM eSIM plan. You’ll be able to access data (without the hassle of a physical SIM card) and be at the ready in case you have designated time to check in on family or with work while you’re away. Have th eSIM loaded so you can get online quickly and without waiting to connect to an unreliable public wifi.
- Maintain ease of access to any important communication apps like Discord or WhatsApp without keeping your main SIM card, meaning you’ll be available for emergency access without the risk of temptation to use your phone mindlessly while attending the retreat.
Bonus: If the organizers of the silent retreat require your contact information to maintain communications afterwards, give them a Hushed online number so that you can receive relevant calls or text messages while still maintaining a boundary around your silent retreat self and your regular daily life.
