The book everyone needs this Christmas: gift the permission to pause
How to Retreat: Step away from your everyday to rest, reset and renew
By Caroline Sylge
"Perfect, concise and really readable" – Ruby Wax
In a world that feels increasingly busy, noisy and overwhelming, perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones this Christmas is the opportunity to slow down, deeply rest and reconnect.
How To Retreat (£17.99, Penguin, ISBN 9781846048722) by retreat expert, author and journalist Caroline Sylge is a beautiful cloth-bound hardback guide that offers something increasingly precious: permission to pause.
Part practical handbook and part inspirational companion, How To Retreat shows that you don't need an expensive spa break or a flight to the other side of the world to experience the benefits of retreating. Instead, it teaches readers how to create moments of rest, reflection and renewal wherever they are, whatever their budget and however much time they have.
Beautifully illustrated and designed to be dipped into throughout the year, the book is filled with easy-to-follow ideas and rituals to help readers retreat for an hour, a day, a long weekend or longer. Alongside practical guidance are literary quotes, poetry and fascinating insights into the science and culture of retreating.
Whether someone is managing stress and overwhelm, navigating a life change, seeking greater creativity, craving joy or in need of calm and sanctuary, How To Retreat offers gentle, practical tools to help you find contentment in meaningful and sustainable ways.
As many of us look to give more thoughtful, intentional gifts this Christmas, How To Retreat is a reminder that wellbeing doesn't need to be complicated, costly or over-worthy.
The perfect Christmas gift
A beautiful cloth-bound hardback designed to treasure and revisit.
For bedside or coffee table, or to pack in your bag for your next trip.
Encourages rest, reflection and reconnection with yourself and those you love.
Filled with practical, unpretentious ideas that can be done at home, on holiday or in another space of your choosing and on any budget.
A thoughtful alternative to traditional wellness gifts.
A companion to return to throughout the year and beyond.
Designed for
The friend who does everything for everyone else.
The mother who never takes time for herself.
The conscious teenager who craves more time offline.
The wellness enthusiast who already has everything.
The person embarking on a new chapter in their life, career or relationship.
Anyone feeling overwhelmed, stressed, lost, sad or burnt out.
Anyone seeking a more intentional or inspired start to the New Year.
The publication of How To Retreat also marks an exciting new chapter for retreating, with the launch of the next generation of Queen of Retreats, the pioneering retreat platform that Caroline founded in 2011.
About the book
How To Retreat: Step away from your everyday to rest, reset and renew by Caroline Sylge is available as a hardback, e-book and audiobook, narrated by Caroline, wherever books are sold.
RRP: £17.99
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9781846048722
More information: https://lnk.to/howtoretreat
About the author
Caroline Sylge is a poet, author and journalist who has been a trusted expert on retreats and retreating for more than 30 years. She is the founder of Queen of Retreats and a leading retreat focused journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and Condé Nast Traveller. She is also the author of the healthy travel guidebooks Body & Soul Escapes and Body & Soul Escapes: Britain & Ireland.
A Carcanet-published poet with both an MA and BA in English, Caroline lives in Devon with her husband and daughter.
More Early Reviews
'So beautifully written. I feel like the book is wrapping me in a huge, compassionate embrace and telling me that I truly matter. We should lobby for it to be on the school curriculum'
Fiona Vettiankal, mother & Secondary Schools Adviser for The National Literacy Trust
‘When I read a non-fiction book, I like to turn over the corners of pages that I want to return to, to really take on board the advice or make a note of something interesting. I have so many pages turned over whilst reading 'How to Retreat' it's ridiculous.
As someone with ADHD I procrastinate a lot and wrongly think I need to wait for the right time for self-improvement, this is why I loved the ideas of what you can do in the time that you have available to you, in particular the advice that decluttering happens best in tiny steps – this I can do! After reading the first couple of chapters, I'd already decluttered my pasta cupboard while waiting for my dinner to cook. I particularly enjoyed how the sound advice is peppered with the author's personal experience. I felt like I was listening to a friend give gentle and kind advice’
Caroline Cunnington-King, mother & foreign language teacher
'This book was everything I'd hoped for and more. I'm going to buy it as presents for people. Beautifully easy to absorb, it weaves ancient wisdom alongside modern knowledge without ever feeling worthy or overwhelming. What I loved most is what it doesn't do: it never tries to sell you a destination, a programme or a price tag. Instead, Caroline offers genuinely actionable, no-nonsense guidance on how to retreat wherever you are.
I read it with a pen in hand and dog-eared more pages than I care to admit. The sections on journalling alone were worth the cover price (if you've been meaning to for years, this is the nudge you need.) Above all, it's the emphasis on kindness and gratitude that stays with me. Simple, yes — but Caroline reminds us that these are among the most healing practices available to us, at any moment, at no cost. That feels radical in the best possible way. A generous, grounding, genuinely useful book. Buy it, keep it close, keep referring to your folded-over pages and give a copy to everyone you love’
Juliet Kinsman, mother, writer & sustainable travel expert
'What stands out is how radical and refreshing the concept is. It takes retreating out of the realm of luxury spas and the elite and makes it accessible to all of us. It's a book that genuinely offers something for everyone – physically, mentally, and emotionally'
Sarah Collinson, mother & policy analyst
‘Such a positive addition to the crazy world we live in’
Jeanette Hyde, mother & gut health nutritionist
'I'm completely in love with this book – such a gentle read, it's really beautiful’
Erica Blumer, mother & teacher
'For the pressed, stretched and stressed, this book is a go-to guide to unwind and breathe – however much time you have – without the need for going away on a formal retreat. And before you feel the pressure of reading cover to cover, it's a nice book to dip into. Caroline brings a lifetime of knowledge to the subject, and it is written in beautiful and often lyrical prose. She not only shares some of the history behind retreating, but also some of her poetry, which is a lovely personal touch. Retreats are themed depending on how much time is available to you, the kind of escape you want, and what qualities you'd like to develop in your life. It's a lovely book that would make an excellent gift. Or just buy it for yourself and put retreating into action: making time for yourself'
Seb James, father & writer
'A treasure trove of knowledge, distilled from a lifetime of devoted retreating by the author, who is also a published poet. The message of the book is clear; you don't need to fly halfway around the world or spend a small fortune to retreat. All the benefits can be enjoyed in your daily life, even if you only have an hour to spare. The chapters are handily divided into themes, with a wealth of suggestions that make retreating feel both accessible and essential to us all. I found myself dipping into it at odd moments during the day, following a theme or looking for inspiration, and at one point losing myself in the author's beautiful poems. 'How To Retreat' tells us that we already have the resources to reset, rejuvenate and nourish our lives, and gives us the confidence to try it for ourselves'
Elle Franklin, mother & counsellor
'Finally – a retreat book that is user-friendly, practical and useful. When a friend popped over last night she picked it up and read out several practice suggestions – all beautifully written in a way that captures you and offers you ideas that are really accessible and do-able. The layout of this book is also well thought out – encouraging you to read on. I also like the mixture of practice, the author's personal experiences and thoughts, as well as referencing neuroscientists. I think it would be an ideal birthday present or a book to send to someone who you just love and care about'
Naomi Nightingale, mother & counsellor
'A fantastic book. I am not well off enough to go on retreats but what I love about this book is it gives you ideas and direction about how to 'retreat' wherever you are, creating that time and space to take a step away to reflect and recharge on a regular basis. It's a lovely book to have at home or to share with friends or family that need some support making time for themselves in a busy world. Highly rec!'
Danielle Hipkins, university lecturer
'So much to say about this book! I love it! It's a guide for life, inspiration for a few minutes or a full immersive experience for a few days. Jam packed with inspiring and practical ways to escape our hectic and disconnected worlds. And don't miss the author's poems at the back – just beautiful. My favourite makes me cry every time I read it. Would make a great present or a treat for yourself – a bit cheaper than a flight to India!'
Olivia Davies, mother & designer
'Fantastic book—perfect if you're looking to step away from the demands of everyday life. It's very accessible, with a range of retreating options, all of which can be easily adapted to fit the time and resources you have available. I really enjoyed the journal prompts and the range of retreating ideas. I would thoroughly recommend it'
Sophie Carr, mother & personal trainer
'A truly beautiful book. Caroline makes retreating accessible to absolutely everyone, and gives you some fantastic ideas to bring more peace and happiness into your lives. She has so much experience in this area and you can really tell. Lovely cloth cover and beautifully designed, something you can leave out on the coffee table or gift to a friend'
Simon Lewis, Amazon reviewer
'I thought this book would give me ideas; what it actually gave me was so much more. It's a well constructed, crafted and thoughtful book packed full of helpful and practice advice. A joy to use yourself as a reference, making your own notes in and reflecting on over time, or it would also make a fabulous present for someone'
Caroline Pember, Waterstones reviewer