I've heard it from many returning vacationers, and have probably said it myself on a couple of occasions - "My vacation was so busy, I had to come back to work to slow down!"

Busy, event-filled vacations can be a great way to solo travel. You may see a show that's a once-in-a-lifetime chance, or go to that great clearance sale at the retailer of your dreams. But what about the time that you take to truly rejuvenate your Self - body, mind, and soul? When was the last time you took one of those vacations?

I call them Healing Vacations. If you Google that very phrase, you'll find lots of sites offering their brand of vacation retreat - whether it's to Sedona to experience the healing touch of the energies there or to Kauai for a group retreat with yoga or other type of meditation focus, or even women's retreats that focus on specific topics, like regaining personal power or developing healthy attitudes toward foods and eating.

The first thing you can do is research. Search the internet for the different types of retreats or ask friends who have taken healing vacations. You may get ideas from drawing on your hobbies - writing retreats, book club gatherings, voluntourism, energy healing - whatever your interest is, look for something that offers an opportunity. If you have the resources and decide to pursue a guided retreat, don't take the first website you find at face value. Make phone calls. Email and ask if there are past students or participants you can call for references and opinions. Just because someone made a video or wrote a book does not mean that their retreat is the right one for you, nor does it make them an expert.

If you're like me, doing the research will spark a whole other line of thinking in your brain - putting together your own retreat. I look at opportunities to go learn something I have always wanted to learn, like how to make a Native American hoop drum, and combine that class with a weekend stay at a quiet resort or campground, where I can meditate, balance my energies, and come back refreshed.

I encourage you to assess what area of your life you feel needs attention, and plan a healing vacation toward it. It's a gift that you can always give yourself.