Why Reading Retreats Are the Ultimate Book-Lover’s Wellness Getaway

The mind is a garden that can only be properly cultivated by taking in the right information. Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do gardening because the world is now full of distractions. But, is there still a place where the myriad wisdom of the world lies? In books. 

Fortunately, beyond the knowledge the pages of books offer, there’s an abundance of peace and wellness that results from reading. This has led to a growing trend of reading retreats, and people across different generations are making the most of it. 

A Retreat Like No Other

A reading retreat is a period of stepping out of daily realities into an undisturbed state of basking in books. Designed to be an experience of tranquil and whole devotion to the act of reading, reading retreats feature calm, cozy, and often scenic atmospheres, allowing participants to recharge and reconnect with books without restrictions. 

Of course, on other forms of retreats, participants can also pick a book to read. What makes a reading retreat special is the sole devotion to reading, not for personal or professional development, but for pleasure. On these retreats, every other activity is optional, leaving participants to read without guilt. 

Reading Retreats and Well-being

Books are the food for the soul, and a healthy soul and a sound mind are core recipes for living a fulfilling life. When done right, a reading retreat offers several benefits to the participant’s well-being and health. 

One of the most significant benefits of reading retreats is the soulful recharge and recentering that they provide. In the largely urban and modern life of constant motion, it’s important to have periods where everything slows down, and individuals can reconnect with themselves. Reading retreats provide that. 

Since these retreats are planned, book lovers get to read without guilt, as devices are put away, and other activities are optional. All that participants are required to do is pour back into the soul that’s been giving its all to the busy everyday life, with pleasure. 

Thanks to the removal of all sources of distractions, it becomes easy to get lost in a story and travel the worlds the plot provides without needing to tend to anything. Ultimately, this trains the reader’s focus, which certainly will be translated to many other activities when the retreat is over. 

One other thing a reading retreat imbues in the participant is the sense of empathy. The world needs more people to be empathetic, and reading fictional books, especially, can help with that. The reader connects with characters, goes on their growth arc and journey with them, sees things from their perspectives, and interprets the plot from new perspectives. At the end of each book, readers attain a higher level of empathy. 

Reading Retreats Done Right

For the real readers, being able to read without pressure and guilt is the height of luxury. In fact, it’s a love language. While unbridled reading in the home is already a big treat, and even bigger gift would be reading retreats in spaces designed specifically for guilt-free reading. Whether it’s a carefully curated and created public space or a themed secluded getaway, reading retreats done right evoke life-changing experiences. 

Exploring Forest Libraries and Hidden Reading Sanctuaries

For instance, in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, there are forest libraries that help readers reconnect with nature. In the Odong Forest Library, the experience of reading while birds chirp in the forest that engulfs the single-story building is one like no other.

The same goes for the Achasan Forest library, where the serenity of nature is infused with the scent of books. These libraries have an extensive collection of books with pages that heal the soul, help readers embrace the warmth of new cultures, and discover worlds that don’t exist. 

Resort destinations like Phuket in Thailand are also becoming top favorites for reading retreats in the world. The mountainous island offers so much to see, giving life and color to every page the reader flips. 

The existence of book-conscious resorts in a destination like this, as well as those in Manila and Baguio in the Philippines, offers opportunities for people to connect meaningfully over the shared love for reading.