Staying at: Getaway House
My jobs and my interests require me to be on social media practically all day, every day. Being as connected to social media as I am might sound fun, but it’s really a lot of work, especially mentally.
It means I never turn off and disconnect.
So when I had the opportunity to experience Getaway House — a travel company whose whole purpose is to allow their guests to completely disconnect and spend some (much needed) time in nature — I jumped on it.
I’d been a fan of Getaway for as long as I’ve known about them, following them on Instagram and listening to their podcast not just for the storytelling and beautiful photos, but because I LOVED what they stand for.
We believe in building balance into modern life — taking the time to rest and unplug from the daily hustle and to focus on ourselves, our relationships, and the wonder of nature.
Getaway House
Burnout is a very real thing. I’ve felt it many times. And it’s usually a struggle to give yourself the proper rest needed to recuperate. We suffer from the “busy syndrome” — always needing and having something to do, or somewhere to be, or someone we don’t want to flake on. But we do it all at OUR own expense.
Cue: a weekend trip in the woods of New Hampshire to stay in a tiny cabin with no cell service and the ability to recharge my brain.
AMEN.
Let me paint the picture for you… of exactly what it’s like to stay with Getaway!
The House
A tiny one-room cabin, compact and equipped with everything needed for a weekend away. The small but mighty houses are complete with kitchenettes, bathroom with a shower, a bed and a small table. They also come with a fire pit outside – and all the tools to make a blaze – plus a pantry stocked with kitchen essentials, and nonperishable items if you need.
Possibly the best feature is the giant window next to the bed, offering a front row view to nature and the woods surrounding you.
The Rules
The only aspect that is strongly encouraged (I won’t actually call it a rule) is to disconnect from your phone. They purposefully select destinations in the woods that don’t have great cell reception. They don’t (and never will) offer Wi-Fi. They even provide a cellphone lockbox so you can stow away your phone for the trip.
I love this push! The encouragement to leave your phone behind, be present in the moment and enjoy what’s surrounding you.
I took full advantage and was so ready for a no-phone weekend. My cousin joined me on this trip and we both committed to a digital detox, even going as far as keeping our phones on airplane mode the whole time.
Ah, peace and quiet.
The Fun
Glamping in the woods of New Hampshire provided us with snowy trails for hiking and exploring, building a fire to make s’mores, and just relaxing in nature. The Getaway team even provides each house with books, word games, and a little stereo for music.
But the real fun is in the stillness. A no-laptop, no-cellphone, no-Instagram weekend meant we had no distractions. We had plenty of time to brainstorm business ideas, manifest our desires, play with tarot cards, chitchat, and sleep in (a real novelty for two working girls).
We did venture out to the nearby towns in New Hampshire for lunch, window shopping, and local beers at a brewery. We also cooked ourselves dinner and ate by the fire. We laughed, we drank wine, we planned our futures, and we rested.
The Results
After two days with no phones, I felt totally rejuvenated. My creativity was at an all-time high and I felt ready to tackle new projects and had so many ideas flowing!
We left our little Getaway cabin (her name was Rose!) with clear heads and full hearts and promises to come back and do it all over again in a few months.
If you’re interested in booking yourself a weekend without phones and enjoying a true Getaway, they have outposts just two hours from New York, Boston, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland and more!
Enjoy a day off, for the always on.
