The Antidote to Loneliness Isn’t a Group Zoom. It’s a Retreat. (And yes, science backs that up.)

According to the World Health Organization, loneliness has officially leveled up from a sad song lyric to a legit public health threat.

One in six people around the world are affected, and it’s been linked to everything from anxiety and depression to heart disease and early death. In fact, loneliness increases the risk of premature death by more than 25%.

(Source: WHO Commission on Social Connection, 2025.)

Yikes!

I don’t know about you, but from personal experience, I can confirm:

Loneliness sucks.

It’s sneaky. It shows up when you’re scanning a room full of people and realizing no one really sees you.

It lingers after your big work win when nobody truly gets what it took.

It even hides in plain sight, like in the middle of your own family dinner.

And the kicker? It’s not just emotionally painful. It’s physically damaging too.

The Cure? (No, not the band.) It’s Connection.

But there’s good news. Really good news.

Connection heals.

Not in a fluffy, let’s-hug-it-out kind of way. (Though hey, I’m from Minnesota and I do love a good hug.)

I’m talking real, science-backed, heart-and-body-level wellbeing.

Social connection is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term health, happiness, and fulfillment.

And in my world, the most effective way to create it isn’t another coaching or training program over zoom.

It’s a retreat.

Retreats don’t just feel good, they actually work.

One study showed that even practicing mindfulness with someone else for just 12 minutes a day significantly lowered feelings of loneliness compared to doing it alone.

Another review of traditional meditation retreats found that people experienced measurable drops in anxiety, depression, and emotional strain.

Shared rituals like those found at retreats help create belonging, trust, and safety in a way that digital interaction just can’t match.

(Source: PMC Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2024; Antaha.org)

Retreats are one of the most potent, accessible, and immediate antidotes to loneliness that exist today.

Here’s why they work from someone who has hosted lots of them:

1.You get to show up as you.

Not the achiever. Not the fixer. Not the version of yourself that leads with a résumé.

Just you. Maybe in leggings. Maybe a little nervous. Definitely open.

And when you land in a space where people see that version of you?

That’s where the magic begins.

2.Instant belonging, zero small talk.

There’s something about a group of people coming together for a common purpose, sharing a meal, a hike, or a barefoot dance party that bonds people fast.

Just genuine connection, often with people you didn’t even know you were missing.

3.Your nervous system finally chills out.

When your body shifts from fight-or-flight to rest-and-receive, everything changes.

You sleep better. You breathe deeper.

Your shoulders drop two inches.

Your soul gets the memo: “We’re safe here, it’s ok to branch out.”

4.You leave changed, in the best way.

I’ve watched strangers become besties.

Retreat attendees launch businesses together.

People exhale for the first time in years.

And sometimes, they remember who they really are…the parts that got buried under burnout, inboxes, or everyone else’s expectations.

Some people think retreats are indulgent.

They’re not. They’re essential.

Some people think retreats are selfish.

They’re not. They’re generous.

Some people think retreats are only for people teetering on the edge of burnout.

They’re not. They’re for staying whole in the first place.

Retreats reconnect us to ourselves and to each other.

And in a world built for convenience, speed, and digital everything, choosing connection is a powerful act of resistance and self-respect.

What If You Created That Kind of Space?

Maybe you’ve had a whisper of an idea…

What if I brought my people together?

What if I created something life-giving?

What if I offered space for real connection?

And then the inner critic pipes up:

I don’t want to feel salesy.

I don’t want to handle all the logistics.

What if no one signs up?

Here’s the thing. You’re not alone in that either.

That’s exactly what I help people with.

I take the fear off the table, map out the vision, and help you bring that little whisper to life, as a soul-aligned, financially sound, deeply impactful retreat.

Whether you’ve hosted before or you’re dreaming of your very first one, I’m here to help you build something real and deeply impactful.

Something meaningful.

Something that brings people together and delivers goodness to the world it desperately needs.