Solo retreat – Spending 72h in a glass cabin in nature

Hofgut Hafnerleiten – A perfect place for a solo retreat in nature

Nestled amidst lush greenery and pristine landscapes, Hofgut Hafnerleiten is a hidden gem that awaits those seeking an idyllic solo wellness retreat away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. This enchanting estate, located in the heart of nature offers a serene escape for people who want to solo retreat seeking true relaxation and digital detox. Hofgut Hafnerleiten is situated in the South of Germany in Bad Birnbach, Bavaria which is about 1.5h away from Munich.

The 72h cabin Swedish study

The hotel requires a stay of a minimum of three nights – and that with good reason. The 72h cabin concept by the Hofgut Hafnerleiten in Bavaria has its roots in a Swedish study deducted in 2017. The so-called 72h cabin study invited participants with stressful jobs to spend 72 hours in a glass cabin in nature. The results showed that after the 72h have passed, stress levels decreased up to 70 percent. Furthermore, blood pressure dropped by 9 percent as well as heart rate slowed. Finally, creativity enjoyed a significant boost.

Hofgut Hafnerleiten

General concept

Your solo retreat vacation can be booked for a minimum period of 3 nights in order to truly experience the benefits discovered by the Swedish 72h hour cabin study. The Hofgut is made up of different houses made from natural materials so that the premises adapt to the surrounding landscape.

The different houses were all built according to different themes and needs of guests. Amongst other things there are cabins by the water, tree cabins, terrace cabins, cabins with private spa or dog-friendly accomodation available. The Hofgut accomodates private guests being perfect for solo travel retreats as well as business guests offering the possibility to host conferences.

Wellness experience

For people with severe stresslevels who want to prevent themselves from a burnout or simply look for a relaxing get-away the Hofgut Hafnerleiten is the right place. The terrace cabin I was housed in is covered in glass allowing for a true close-to-nature experience. The interior was well-light with daylight, allowing oneself to live more with the natural rhythm and flow of nature. People like me that spend too much time on their phone (all work related of course ; )) have no excuse to go on a bit of a digital detox, as the houses neither have cell reception nor wifi. For emergencies however as well as for the business guests, the main houses provide wifi.

Some of the houses have their own private spa with a Finnish sauna. Those that don’t have a private spa can access the shared spa that is open to all hotel guests. It is situated by a pond that also invites you to take a dip afterwards. A little rest cabin with some loungers invite guests to relax in a calm environment. There is also the possibility to book massages from 60-90 minutes or you can book a guided Shirin Yoku, forest-bathing, experience.

The good thing about the Hofgut is that because it is a bit secluded and there aren’t many distractions around, you are free from the fear of missing out and have no urge of having to do something. For once, you can genuinely, without a bad conscience, just sit back, enjoy, and soak it all up. Most of my days were spent reading, sleeping and eating, with occasional short walks.

Food

The kitchen is a mix between traditional farm kitchen and Mediterranean made from seasonal and local produce. I particularly loved their food concept. In the mornings every day at 9 they would bring a breakfast basket to your doorstep. That way you can have a slow morning without having to follow strict dining schedules. In the evening every day at 6pm there is the Aperitivo where hotel guests can come together over some drinks to connect, or just for the sake of having a nice drink. Then guests can decide whether they want to enjoy a communal dinner at the round table shared with other guests or if they prefer to take their dinner baskets to their room. The dinner consisted of a three course meal and vegetarian/vegan options are available upon request.

My personal experience

Before

I came without any expectations and my only intent was just to do nothing for once. Not having to work, no staring into the phone, not feeling obliged to do anything “useful” with the day. My intent was to consciously spend the time in my little hut and not going out and about too much as I wanted the true 72h cabin experience without too much distraction. I must say I came from a point of severe stress levels. Life has been super busy lately, working multiple jobs leaving me feeling exhausted. I had several symptoms of a burnout showing up, physically as well as emotionally. I was feeling increasingly anxious and sad. I lacked clarity and had a hard time taking decisions so I avoided them altogether. The invite to the Hofgut couldn’t have come to a better time therefore.

During the experiment

Admittedly it is not that easy, especially when you are self-employed, to go from a 100 to 0 within seconds. It took me some time to adjust and settle down. I managed to eventually let go and wind down. Then, in a next stage my brain was probably a bit overwhelmed with the sudden decrease in stress and the “not doing anything” part, which led me to become a bit restless. Some signs of boredom were creeping to the surface which I knew were just a natural reaction of my brain and body. I was so used to constantly being fed with dopamine and adrenaline that I was not used to doing nothing.

In a next stage, after examinating this feeling of boredom a bit closer (always trying to do it in a non-judgemental way) delight and sparks of inspiration followed. I had such a burst of creativity and sudden clarity that I needed to have an outlet for it. I tried to resist and stay true to the “not doing anything” philoshophy but eventually I gave in and had to capture my creativity burst. Because I didn’t want to force it either and it brought me joy. True, maybe this was a bit of cheating. But on another note, I believe that as long as things feel good and give you energy they are acceptable.

After ­

Coming into this, I didn’t know what to expect and to be honest as my life was so busy I didn’t even fully read into the concept beforehand. I dind’t know about their 72h concept and wasn’t aware that there wouldn’t be any wifi which unsettled me a bit once I first found out. I did a lot of reflecting during these few days, gained some clarity, some rest and new insights. One of the things though that I regret is that some work was unavoidable as I couldn’t completely free my schedule beforehand. For this experiment to be truly successful, the next time I would prepare myself better and set myself up in a way that people know beforehand that I’m going to be offline and not being able to do any work. Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time. I could rest and relax, catch up on some sleep and what was most important to me is that I gained new clarity and inspiration on how to progress with my life. Though, I think it’s important to mention that there is never a quick (permanent) fix for severe stress levels. A 72h cabin stay can work instant wonders and it did help greatly. However, stress that has been acute over longer periods of time needs a long-term treatment approach. A 72h cabin stay is a great way to kick off a new anti-stress lifestyle but the effect will only be maintained if upon your return back home you keep incorporating breaks and other anti-stress rituals into your life.

Conclusion – The best place for a solo retreat

The Hofgut has a unique and wholesome concept that all comes together very nicely – you can really see that a lot of love and care go into the place and that every decision is made very intentionally. The choice of different houses offer something for everyone and while you are still surrounded by other houses, there is enough space in-between to have your privacy and alone time. The food and coffee were delicious too and the way it was served was unique. The chosen design and natural materials integrate the hotel nicely into nature, adding to the feeling of oneness with nature. The staff is very genuine and passionate, including the lovely owners that deeply care about their guests and relate to them in a personal way. All these things together make the Hofgut one of the best solo retreats for anyone looking for a relaxed get-away and time out.

Disclaimer

This article contains affiliate links. This means that by booking the accomodation through the links provided in this article, I will earn a comission free for any booking made. This allows me to further maintain my blog and invest more time in providing you with engaging and valuable content : )