Peter Lohmann takes a two-night solo retreat in a remote cabin every year with no phone or laptop, just books and a notepad. He says the isolation consistently sparks his best ideas for work and life. He encourages others to try it.
I just got back from my annual solo reading retreat. I do this almost every year, 2 nights by myself in a cabin in the woods. Ideally no phone, no laptop, no tech, just a stack of books, a notepad, and plenty of time to read, think, and plan. I've been doing this for years and it never fails. There's something about going by yourself and giving yourself literal and mental space where nobody needs anything from you that turns on a part of your brain that you rarely get to use. Some of my best ideas personally and professionally have come out of these trips. I'm not going to list all the books I brought or all the articles I read. You can see my newsletter article if you want those details. The concept here is simple though. Get out, get into a quiet space, a quiet area, bring some stuff you want to read and leave your phone in the car. If you've never done this, what are you waiting for? Book something, even if it's just one night and tell me where you're going. I'd love to hear about it.
