A solitary meditation retreat is one of the most profound experiences I’ve had as a meditation practitioner, yet before I tried it, I had no idea what actually happened during these extended periods of silence and introspection. After completing a two-month solitary meditation retreat, I’m sharing my personal experience: the daily routine I created, the challenges I faced, and the transformative insights that emerged from retreating alone with my mind.
What Is a Solitary Meditation Retreat?
A solitary meditation retreat is an extended period of time, ranging from a few days to several month, where you dedicate yourself entirely to meditation practice without external distractions. Unlike group retreats where you’re surrounded by other practitioners, a solitary meditation retreat means being completely alone, not speaking with anyone, disconnected from technology, and focused entirely on inner exploration.
During my solitary meditation retreat, there were no exciting Instagram stories to post, no dramatic adventures to share. It was a time to look inward, to sit with myself, and to investigate the nature of my own mind without the constant pull of the outside world.
Why I Chose a Solitary Meditation Retreat
People often assumed my solitary meditation retreat must have been religious or deeply spiritual, but this wasn’t necessarily true for me. Whilst I do approach retreat from a spiritual perspective, my motivation was also simple curiosity, the desire to explore and observe my inner world through first-person experience.
My solitary meditation retreat allowed me to become the authority of my own experience. Rather than relying solely on spiritual teachers, scientific authorities, or medical experts, I could experiment directly with what was happening in my mind. I observed how thought patterns formed, how belief systems shaped my perception of reality, and how my mind created meaning.
I undertook my solitary meditation retreat to:
- Increase my concentration and mental stability
- Develop analytical insight into my mind’s workings
- Cultivate peace that extends into daily life
- Take my practice to a deeper level
- Simply see what happens when all distractions are removed
How Long Was My First Solitary Meditation Retreat?
When I considered my first solitary meditation retreat, I didn’t commit to months of isolation straight away. In fact, my very first solo retreat was just five days, more than sufficient to experience both the benefits and challenges of this practice.
Looking back at my journey with solitary meditation retreats:
My first attempt: 5 days
After several group retreats and different 5 days solitary retreats: 10 days
As my practice deepened: Two weeks, then eventually two months
Even after years of meditation, I gained tremendous insight from just a week in solitary meditation retreat. I discovered the key wasn’t duration, it was the quality of my practice and proper preparation.
How I Created My Solitary Meditation Retreat Schedule
Proper preparation was essential before I began my solitary meditation retreat. The first and most important step? I established my sleep schedule.
Sleep Comes First
I’d heard people insist you must wake at 4:00 AM for a solitary meditation retreat. This didn’t work for me at all. My sleep requirements depended entirely on my individual needs, what I’d been doing before the retreat, and how much rest my body required to function optimally.
Personally, I need seven to eight hours of sleep. When I got adequate rest during my solitary meditation retreat, my meditation practice became stable, fruitful, and resourceful. Without proper sleep, my ability for investigation and concentration diminished dramatically.
At the beginning of my solitary meditation retreat practice, I gave myself plenty of rest. I discovered that watching my mind and being alone with my thoughts was surprisingly tiring work when done correctly. Later, I experimented with reducing sleep by an hour or two but added a midday nap to maintain my total rest time.
I started by establishing my sleeping hours. I naturally wake at 6:30 AM, so I built my solitary meditation retreat schedule from there.
How Many Sessions Per Day?
For my solitary meditation retreat, I started with 20-minute meditation sessions. Whilst some traditions advocate for hour-long sessions, I found that shorter, high-quality sessions produced far better results for me.
During my two-month retreat, I did: 7-8 sessions maximum per day
The maths worked out to: 20 minutes × 7 sessions = 140 minutes (approximately 2.5 hours of meditation). This seemed modest at first, but when those sessions maintained consistent quality throughout my solitary meditation retreat, it represented a tremendous amount of practice.
My schedule filled up surprisingly quickly. Between meditation sessions, meals, breaks, walks, and exercise, I found the days passed with surprising speed during my solitary meditation retreat.
What Happens During Breaks?
This is what most people asked me about my solitary meditation retreat: what did I actually do between meditation sessions?
I was resting my mind, but I discovered there were different levels and approaches to this rest.
Early in My Practice
At the beginning of my solitary meditation retreat, resting my mind meant genuinely letting it wander. I didn’t try to control every moment. I needed actual mental rest between intensive practice sessions.
Practical activities during my solitary meditation retreat breaks included:
- Preparing and eating meals
- Having tea
- Showering and personal hygiene
- Light cleaning
- Reading meditation-related materials
- Walking
- Physical exercise
Meals and Routine
I structured my solitary meditation retreat around three meals daily. I particularly enjoyed a substantial lunch break: it provided a pleasant anchor point and something to look forward to during the day.
I was surprised how these small activities filled my time. Even without external entertainment, my well-structured solitary meditation retreat kept me engaged throughout the day.
Walking, Exercise, and Fresh Air
I cannot emphasise this enough from my experience: I had to go outside during my solitary meditation retreat. I couldn’t remain indoors for 24 hours; it would have driven me to distraction.
Essential outdoor activities during my solitary meditation retreat:
- Daily walks (I took a two-hour walk after lunch)
- Fresh air and nature exposure
- Physical movement to balance sitting practice
I also incorporated physical exercise into my solitary meditation retreat routine:
- Tai Chi
- Basic stretching exercises
These activities gave my body necessary breaks. Otherwise, I was simply sitting all day, which I found wasn’t healthy during an extended solitary meditation retreat.
Reading and Technology Rules
No Internet or Phone
The biggest potential distraction during my solitary meditation retreat was the internet. My solution was simple: I turned off my phone completely.
During my solitary meditation retreat, I eliminated:
- Phone calls
- Text messages
- Social media
- News
Emergency Contact
I was concerned about family emergencies during my solitary meditation retreat, so I went to a retreat centre where staff could reach me via landline if necessary. I gave this number to close family members.
This was crucial for me: I conducted my solitary meditation retreat at a location where people could provide support if needed. Even whilst alone and not speaking with anyone, knowing someone was available in the background allowed me to fully relax. This was important both for my physical safety and mental wellbeing.
What I Read
For my solitary meditation retreat, I brought books related to meditation:
- Teachings on concentration (if that’s your focus)
- Material on open awareness
- Inspirational talks from teachers
I absolutely didn’t bring novels or pure entertainment. Even my reading material during my solitary meditation retreat remained connected to my practice theme. I wasn’t there to catch up on fiction; that would have been pure distraction and an escape from the retreat itself.
I allowed my mind to wander occasionally as rest, but my reading material stayed connected to my solitary meditation retreat intentions.
The Surprising Truth: I Never Got Bored
People often expressed concern to me about boredom during a solitary meditation retreat. “What will you do without your phone? Without entertainment?”
Interestingly, I have a tendency to become bored easily in daily life. I’ve changed jobs and careers multiple times because I need constant stimulation and learning. Yet during my solitary meditation retreat, with no phone, no internet, sometimes minimal reading, I never experienced boredom.
Never.
Looking inside my mind became so fascinating and engaging that there was always something new to investigate. Every solitary meditation retreat revealed deeper patterns, subtler mental movements, and new territories to explore. The practice itself became endlessly interesting.
Important Considerations from My Experience
Before I share my experience further, I want to mention something important:
My solitary meditation retreat practice developed after years of meditation experience and multiple group retreats. I had familiarity with meditation techniques and the support of experienced teachers.
When I went into my meditation retreat, I had the tools and stability to work with difficult emotions, memories, and mental patterns that arose. Being alone with my mind for extended periods brought up challenging material, and I’m grateful I had the foundation to navigate these experiences.
I consulted with my meditation teacher before my first solitary retreat, and I always recommend that others do their own research and speak with qualified professionals about whether this practice might be suitable for them.
Going into a solitary retreat without proper foundation can be dangerous. When you’re alone with your mind for extended periods, difficult emotions, memories, and mental patterns arise. If you experience any mental health issues, consult your doctor or mental health professional before attempting a solitary meditation retreat.
How I Started My Solitary Meditation Retreat
After years of group retreat experience, I felt ready to try my first solitary meditation retreat. I started small, just 3-5 days, which was perfect for experiencing this practice without overwhelming myself.
My preparation steps for my first solitary meditation retreat:
- I found a suitable location with support staff available
- I established my sleep schedule first
- I planned 20-minute meditation sessions
- I scheduled regular breaks, walks, and meals
- I brought appropriate reading material
- I turned off all technology
- I arranged emergency contact via landline
My solitary meditation retreat represented a significant step in my meditation journey. With proper preparation, realistic expectations, and attention to my wellbeing, it became one of the most transformative experiences of my practice.
The invitation of my solitary meditation retreat was simple yet profound: spend time with myself, watch my mind, and discover what emerged when I removed all distractions and simply sat. What I found surprised me in the most beautiful ways.
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