Burned out or stretched thin? Read this.
- Halle Simpson
- Dec 2, 2025
- 3 min read
The morning was just as I had pictured.
Twenty women arrived with yoga mats tucked under their arms, a low hum of welcome chatter and bodies releasing a soft sigh of gratitude for the day they had gifted themselves.
The Friday before Thanksgiving, I hosted my first ever Out of Office Retreat for Professional Women in conjunction with Northwestern Michigan College’s Extended Education Department…and the buzz throughout the day confirmed my hunch, this is a space women need but don’t know how to do on their own.
“This retreat was exactly what I needed - a chance to unplug, connect with other women and spend time in reflection. Halle is a wonderful facilitator and held a safe, nurturing space for reflection, growth and connection.” ~ Courtney L
Women registered because they were…
…wanting space to align “personal me” with “professional me”
…feeling burnout and needed a refresh to focus on priorities
…desiring a self-check-in after some life changes
Do any of these sound like you?
The human experience is ever changing, ebbing and flowing, and we’re lucky if we find space to catch up with our thoughts. Are we doing ok? Are we clear and confident about the direction we are going? If not, how do we get back on track?
The thing is, you can create a day like this for yourself. In the next few weeks, or the week after New Year’s, create your own Out of Office day by setting up the following:
Begin with a brain dump - journaling everything out of your brain to be fully present for the day. Pro tip: Have some soft spa-like music playing in the background.
Move your body with gentle yoga or stretching - either via YouTube or an in-person class. This helps you release tension and be ready to receive.
Spend some time in a self-awareness exercise…I have a few of these on video if you need a place to start.
Make yourself a beautiful lunch & enjoy it without your phone.
Go for a walk outside.
Now it’s time for a second self-awareness exercise.
Lastly, after decompressing, call a friend to tell her what you got from the experience. Preface the call by requesting, “I’ve been asked to debrief my experience by asking a friend to listen as I unpack what I learned. We can have another conversation to mutually catch up - but this call is about helping me deepen my learning with a supportive, trusted friend.”
If you need a little assistance setting this up, hit reply to this email. Seriously, we can talk through it! Also, I have a $97 bundle of workshops that offer just the right amount of support to create your very own Out of Office Day!
But rest assured, if you prefer an in-person experience, there will be another retreat sometime next year!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!
Halle
PS:
1. For daily support and tidbits follow me over on Insta!
2. Time for a new journal? Pick up a new copy of my Know Thyself Journal for daily support towards your most important intentions for the next 90 days.
3. Are you into individual assessments? Here is a link to take a free Core Values Assessment (CVI). It only takes 10 minutes and measures your innate, unchanging nature. Take it yourself and feel free to forward to a friend, too.
