Covet: The “Disrespectful” Health and Wellness Retreat for Entrepreneurs and Other Ambitious Women
Etiquette 101
Breastfeeding is allowed. People who nurse their children are welcome to do so openly in this virtual space. During nursing, you choose if your camera should be on or off or whether to include a covering or not over the child. If the baby is fussy, we do ask that you mute your audio during sessions
Refrain from offering unsolicited advice. The success of this retreat for all involved depends heavily on the safety of the space. This includes being able to speak freely and openly. One way to maintain this security is by being compassionate listeners who are intentional about OFFERING FEEDBACK AND ADVISE ONLY WHEN AN INVITATION TO DO SO IS EXTENDED. This means that when those around us are venting, thinking out loud, sharing their thoughts on their lives, we are disciplined in our ability to not respond and share our thoughts.
Do not give others access to the space. We do not share contact information that gives access to the space to anyone outside of those who have registered for the experience. (PLEASE DO NOT GIVE OUT THE ZOOM LINK TO OTHER PEOPLE, protect people’s privacy, etc.)
Protect each other’s privacy: During the retreat, be mindful that participants may be sharing sensitive information. For example, if you are sharing physical space with someone who is not a member of the retreat, consider wearing headphones to maintain the privacy of those who are participating. After the retreat, please refrain from sharing any identifying information about other people. This includes their names, experiences, location, etc. Treat this space as if it were a secret society. That’s part of the value that we should all be able to receive and enjoy as part of this experience.
Limit Distractions (Media, Phones, and Other Technology). Many of us are attached to our phones. We have bills to pay, work to manage, children to maintain, etc. For two and a half days, we are unplugging and retreating from most— if not all— of those things. We are taking a break from the demands of our lives and focusing our attention and energy inward. If possible, turn off all electronics and media during all sessions. If it helps, consider it a “fast.” Some of us may need to “detox” before the retreat. If this is you, please, plan your strategy for doing this so that you can focus fully on yourself during this time.
Set Your Intention. Before the retreat begins, spend time thinking about what you want to experience and accomplish. What are your goals for the weekend? In one or two sentences, state what you plan to achieve. You can write this statement in your Covet journal, on a notepad or a post it note. We recommend that you place it somewhere you can see it throughout your two and a half day journey with us. Let it guide you through.
Observe what comes up without judgment. As you progress through different workshops, journaling, independent sessions and breakouts, you might experience some things. They may include moments of “aha,” laughter, frustration, fatigue, and uncertainty. Sometimes, you may be “facing yourself” in a session and find yourself feeling insecure. Try to watch with your mind’s eye without judging yourself either way. Instead, observe yourself with compassion.
Proactively plan for spouses, housemates, partners and children not involved in the retreat. One benefit of online retreats is flexibility. You can retreat at a hotel, on vacation, during a staycation…or at home. This also means that you may also be sharing living space with friends, family, etc. If this is the case, please plan for how you will navigate your retreat experience while also cohabiting with people who are not a part of the retreat. What boundaries will you set, if any? What preparations need to be made? What conversations have to take place? Whose support will you need to enlist? As you prepare to retreat from the busyness of the world to focus on you and build you health and wellness plan and practice, how can you honor your relationships with others in that space while also fully committing to the retreat experience?
Practice self-discipline by attending all sessions and sticking to the schedule. The kind of work we will do over the span of the retreat will demand a lot from you. It will require you to show up for yourself and those around you. At some point, you may want to step away. If doing so will help your mental health, by all means, take the break. But if you’re doing it for reasons that do not ultimately serve your health and wellness goals, you may want to reconsider. If possible, challenge yourself to show up for every session as a way of committing to your health and wellness agenda. For some of you, this may be the first step in rebuilding trust with yourself. For others, showing up may be about something else. Only you can decide.
Own the experience. Take notes, ask questions about, honor your feelings and emotions, lean into discussions, etc. In other words, be present, as opposed to being a passive experience. Take up space. Use this opportunity to dive deep, explore, and strategize without apology.
Please leave cameras on. As much as possible, please leave your cameras on. Seeing live faces, experiencing call and response, and receiving those nonverbal cues— a head nod, finger snap, smile— makes a virtual experience feel dynamic and engaging. We do understand that situations may arise that will either require or prompt you to turn off your cameras. During those moments, please don’t hesitate to do so. Otherwise, please keep your cameras on.