What is the first thing you do you in the morning? Or the last thing you think about before falling asleep?
For too many of us, our day begins by checking emails before we’ve even hopped out of bed, and end struggling to drift off because we feel overwhelmed by our workloads and never-ending to-do lists. Life feels like a constant hustle. These initial habits and feelings can sometimes be the beginning of a domino effect to other areas of our health –and a fast track to burnout. Verve sat down with Joelene Ranby to talk more about her latest offering and becoming more aware of burnout.
Joelene is the founder of Resolution Retreats, New Zealand’s largest women’s exclusive weight loss, health and wellness retreat. Alongside her team, over the past 10 years she has welcomed and taken care of hundreds of women from all walks of life. It was the evident shift in the mental and physical exhaustion of her guests that would be the catalyst for her newest retreat offering: Resilience Retreats.
“More and more women were turning up to our retreats burnt out or on the brink of burn-out. I saw first-hand how employees needed to be better supported in their health and wellbeing, and most importantly in an environment that allowed and supported them to really do that. Put simply, that’s how Resilience Retreats was born”.
The professional and personal health retreat focuses on equipping both women and men with the practical tools and resources to reduce burnout in the first place, while improving quality of life and enhancing job performance through fundamental health and education workshops delivered by leading industry professionals over three days.
With verifiable CPD hours, the growth of professional and personal health benefits both the individual and the organisation, covering essential workshops on mental health and resilience, stress management, habits, motivation and productivity, sleep and energy, teamwork, and confident communication. Guests can also book a one-on-one consultation with various practitioners on retreat to dive deeper into specific areas of their health they want to improve and understand better.
Spread across 26 hectares on the peaceful borders of Lake Karāpiro, guests are encouraged to fully immerse themselves and relax at the purpose built health resort while everything is taken care of. Luxurious and spacious private chalet accommodation, nutritionist planned meals, optional daily yoga classes, private bush walks, and tennis courts offer the ultimate health holiday.
The wellness centre’s five-star facilities include an indoor heated pool, steam rooms, weights room, and Jacuzzis, while the luxury in house spa encourages guests to relax and be pampered with the extensive ‘unwind’ beauty menu. There is something for everyone; from hot stone massages, reflexology or indulgent facials to teeth whitening or flowpresso – a lymphatic drainage treatment to enhance physical and mental wellbeing. There’s not much Joelene hasn’t thought of or delivered.
Post retreat, guests receive 12 weeks of follow-up support to ensure they continue to feel supported and confident with the tools they’re now armed with to live healthier, work more productively, and understand their risks of burnout.
The signs of burnout are different for everyone, the Resilience Retreats team recommends reducing your pressure and the following three tips:
- Be honest with those around you, particularly those who rely on you. This will make them aware they need to back off a bit.
- Remove yourself from the environment(s) that are contributing to pressure for at least three days – stay with a friend, go camping, or go to a retreat. While away, switch off from any connections to the pressure (e.g. log out of your work email app).
- Find someone impartial to talk to. Counsellors have relevant training and can help you compartmentalise overwhelming problems or feelings so you can see a path forward.
