Get ready to learn, grow and energize! This post provides a comprehensive packing list and clever strategies to ensure a smooth and inspiring creative retreat experience.

Retreating for a creative recharge is a fantastic way to reignite your passions. But between brainstorming sessions, goals and processes, the thought of packing can quickly turn from exciting to overwhelming.

How about we take the stress out of the equation with a handy packing list and clever organization tips to ensure your retreat experience is all about releasing your creativity. Let’s get ready for a retreat packed with creativity, not overflowing suitcases.

But first, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that no two creative retreats are alike. 

This post will help you pack for any creative retreat, whether nature retreat, craft retreat, wellness getaway, or art retreat perhaps. No matter what kind of magic you’re going to create.

For me, my calendar was blocked off for a four day creative retreat with my “Blogging Besties”, a group of six bloggers who meet every week on zoom to learn together, to support,  encourage and empower each other. 

This blog post is dedicated to planning what to pack, as well as how to pack for your retreat, regardless of the purpose of your retreat.

At the end of this post, you’ll find links to my BB’s posts on hosting a retreat, planning the perfect road trip, accommodations and more.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Start With a Packing Checklist For Peace of Mind

Packing Lists will vary between people. We all have different needs and wants.

Plus your packing lists will also vary by length of time, season, destination, purpose of your retreat, etc. 

 I’ve included mine as printable in my free printables library. There are two pages, my list as a sample and an empty one for you to fill in. If you are a subscriber, you have immediate access.

What? You’re not a member! We can take care of that right now:

The links in this post may include affiliate links, which means if you purchase anything using these links, you pay no extra, but I may receive a small commission that helps keep this blog running. I truly appreciate you using affiliate links whenever possible. Please know that I will never recommend a product I do not believe in!

​When compiling my packing list, I think of the structure of my day. My daily routine in general and then the specific days I am planning for.

Morning Essentials-

How do you like to start your day? With a bit of yoga? Meditation? A brisk walk?

Add your essentials to your list. My morning starts with stretching and meditation, followed by a brisk walk.

I stretch in my pajamas and don’t have to have a mat.  I will take my brisk walk while the other gals are having their morning coffee and breakfast. So beyond toiletries, I will only need my walking shoes and socks.

Evaluate your morning and add your morning essentials to the packing list.

Daytime Inspiration-

Beyond your clothes, what items do you need for your given retreat activities? If you’re attending a retreat is organized by others, it’s a good idea to look at the agenda they probably provided. They probably have a suggested supply list and notes regarding what supplies are provided.

Creative work can often require specialty supplies. The retreat might provide a few basic supplies, or perhaps a whole studio brimming with art supplies. But you might want to bring a watercolor brush pen or two for capturing that mountain view during some quiet, alone time. 

For a self-directed, personal retreats, be realistic about what and how much you hope to explore, learn and accomplish. Keep your supplies as light and few as possible.

​Reading back that last sentence is really quite humorous, as I am not know for conservative expectations of anything.

​But In recent years, I have become more reasonable and appreciative of light expectations. I have learned to appreciate the quality of the process of learning and greatly lowered the expected output or final products. This eliminates so much stress and weariness.

For our retreat, I knew I needed some homework we had all agreed to do ahead, a clean fresh notebook, pens, colorful post-its, and a few printed out reports. I also needed my laptop and I wanted to include my iPad and my daily planner.

Nighttime Relaxation-

For many, the evenings may provide some quiet time of reflection at the end of the day. What do you use to wrap up your day and provide for a good nights rest? A good novel? An eye mask and scented candle? A meditative colouring book? Glass of wine and bubble bath?

Pick your wind down of choice and add it to your packing list.

For our squad’s retreat, I knew we would break for an in-house dinner, organized and prepared by our amazing host, Michele of Vintage Home Designs, and then continue working into the night. 

One evening’s dinner break would include a “Favorite Things” gift exchange,  proposed by Amy, of Amy Sadler Designs. We all loved that idea, so I definitely did not want to forget those gifts. You can read all about the exchange and organizing it in Amy’s blog post.

So beyond the gifts, I did not need to add anything extra for nighttime activities and relaxation.

Toiletries and Medications–

All medications get packed early, with dosages for an extra day just in case there is an unforeseen delay in our return travel. And medications carry on with me — never in a checked bag!

Toiletries can be replaced fairly easily and I don’t like all the carry on regulations, so if I’m checking a bag anyway, they go in that checked bag.

Clothes

Yes, we are at the biggie! But the goal here is not big, not how much can I fit in my luggage!

The goal is to have just what you need, and not an item beyond. 

Okay if that idea stresses you out, you can pack one extra outfit (in case of spills and such).

Remember, part of the reason you’re taking this creative retreat is to lighten up and let your spirit, your creativity expand and grow.

That’s hard to do when you’re weighed down with a lot of heavy baggage — real and metaphorical.

Analyze your agenda and determine how many of what kind of outfit you need.

Comfortable Clothes! But What Does That Mean?

“Comfy clothes” means two very different, yet equally important things:

1. that they are physically comfy to sit, move, stretch, paint, hike, etc in — all day long!
2. you feel comfortable, and confident in how you look in the particular outfit

Your retreat and personal style will determine what these outfits will be. They can be work clothes for getting dirty, hiking clothes for taming the wild, business casual clothes for a business focused retreat, athletic wear for a yoga or wellness retreat. 

Start with outfits for your two travel days. Then plan one outfit for each retreat day and evening if they will be different.

PRO TIP: Planning and packing by complete outfits, simplifies and streamlines the process and how much you take.

I lay out each outfit on our bed. Then I layer in the undergarments, any accessories like belts or jewelry, and any seasonal layering I might need. If a dress needs a slip I add the slip to the same hanger.

Every sleeveless dress will have a light wrap, sweater or jacket for air conditioning. 

While they are all laying out, I can easily make sure I have a pair of shoes for each.

If I do this a week or two before my retreat, I also have time to shop for any holes in my planned outfits. These outfits then return to the closet with all the components on one hanger. They stay there complete until I’m ready to pack. 

When my mother started planning for a trip, she assembled a folding hanging rack in a spare bedroom. It was a great way for her to be organized and make sure she had just what she needed.

Use what method works for you, but don’t wait until the night before. Plan and move your retreat wardrobe to a separate spot, all together. Nothing gets “borrowed” from the retreat clothes before you pack.

NOTE: This is different from packing for a family vacation where you want a small capsule wardrobe of mix and match.

Interested in what we chose as Comfy, Casual and Stylish?

I put together a collage of many of our outfits. Some are sold out in the fabrics you see us wearing, so I picked similar fabrics of the same dresses.

Want details? Just click on the icon on each item.

How-To Pack For a Retreat

There are many variations of two basic styles of packing:

1. The flat-fold method
2. the rolled method

Flat Fold Method-

Most retreats are stay-at-one-place the whole time kind of events. In this case, the best packing method is a flat-fold method. The traditional flat-fold method is each garment folded and then stacked on top of each other like a dresser drawer.

But here is a flat-fold packing method that actually more space efficient and reduces wrinkles.

The disadvantage is that it is not practical if you want to just pull one or two items out. When I arrive I unpack and hang my clothes. It’s perfect for that and you seldom need to iron anything.

Step 1) Build to Create a Smooth, Level Base-

With soft-sided suitcases, fill the voids created by the retracting handle with shoes and socks and such. A beach towel or sweatshirt layered on these, provides the perfect smooth base to layer your clothes.

Step 2) Layer Your Clothes-

Alternate the sides of the suitcase the layers extend over. Start with the most wrinkle prone garments and end with the most forgiving garments.

Step 3) Fold Garments into the Suitcase-

Alternate folding the garments over the sides and into the suitcase. They will be folding over the thickness of the other garments which is what minimizes wrinkles.

Now on top will lay my toiletries bag, hairdryer and other miscellaneous items.

Belts are tucked in between the suitcase walls and the clothes.

Rolled Method-

If your retreat is a moving event, maybe a bicycling retreat with a new destination each day. You’ll be living out of your bag. You’ll want to use the rolled method. Each outfit is rolled as a single unit. This allows you to pull out one complete outfit at a time.

PRO TIP: Regardless of how you are packing, always, pack shoes and anything heavy on the side of the suitcase the wheels are on.

This way, your clothes and lighter items will be on top most of the time.

And now, my special squad is sharing more tips garnered from our amazing creative retreat. You don’t want to miss a thing!!! So let’s start with:

I hope you enjoyed the recounting of our retreat, but also my tips for packing to help you enjoy your next getaway, whether it be a girl catchup, a retreat or a conference.