From Burnout to Permission: The Power of Quarterly Solo Retreats for Women

In this solo episode of Feminist Founders’ summer series on women’s invisible labor, Becky shares a deeply personal practice she’s relied on for years: quarterly solo hotel retreats.

Recorded across two days in real time, Becky opens up about why she prioritizes this ritual, the family grief and financial stress that made this one especially necessary, and how these retreats help her reset from the relentless invisible labor of parenting, partnership, and work.

From perimenopause symptoms to parenting burnout, from the quiet joy of lowering a thermostat to 60 degrees to the relief of binge-watching shows alone in peace, this episode is an intimate reminder that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
• Why Becky takes solo hotel retreats every quarter (and why two nights are non‑negotiable)
• The invisible labor women carry in parenting, marriage, and caregiving
• The guilt that arises when prioritizing your own needs — and how to work through it
• How grief, perimenopause, and financial strain compound emotional labor
• Small ways to carve out restorative space, even if a hotel isn’t possible
• Why granting yourself permission to rest can be revolutionary

Resources & Links
• Join the Messy Liberation Coaches Circle
• Heather Vickery's episode on retreats

🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE