Part 3: My 5 Rules for a meaningful Inward Journey

This post is part of the Ayurvedic Journey series. Start from Part 1 if you’re new to this path.

This journey had a purpose - a goal I wanted to achieve. And I knew that its success lay in my own hands. To ensure that these two weeks would truly become time for me, I needed some rules. Or rather: an agreement with myself. A clear set of do’s and don’ts to help me turn outward noise into inward space.

The first decision was no internet - no social media, no scrolling through Instagram, no watching YouTube, no online shopping. Nothing. No digital distractions pulling me away from the experience. The only moment I used the internet was to find a few locations via Google Maps - nothing more.

The second rule was no contact with people outside the retreat. I took a break from talking to family and friends. This was me time — and it was very important to me to really dive into myself and cut off from everything else: not just dramas or challenges, but also the joys of my close ones. I owned this to myself, especially after giving too much attention and space to others while neglecting myself. That meant no passive updates either - no catching up on messages or stories. I informed everyone in advance and let them know I’d get in touch once I returned home.

Sri Lanka supported both choices. Internet was only available in the hotel lobby and few outdoor locations. I didn't purchase a local SIM card, so roaming stayed off. To remove even the smallest temptation, I turned off all notifications and enabled “Do Not Disturb” mode. I didn’t want to rely on others to respect my space - I made it my responsibility to protect it.

My third rule was to be present in the moment and follow my needs. I gave myself not only permission, but also the expectation to follow my instincts - without pressure or expectation about how this retreat should look like. If I felt like connecting with others and sharing time — wonderful.

If I felt like isolating and being fully alone — also perfect

I also made the decision to journal - write down everything and nothing. Let myself wonder through my thoughts and feelings and express them on paper, to process and understand. Not just hold space in my mind for endless wonders and noise.

And finally, I wanted to read - I took with me a book, that was aligned with the purpose of this retreat. I didn’t want something I felt I should read, nor something just for entertainment. It was an intuitive choice - Czuła Przewodniczka by Natalia de Barbaro — a gift from friends that had been waiting for the right moment. That moment came with this journey. Her first page joined me at the airport, and her final words landed with me (literally) back in Germany. To summarize, Five simple rules:

1. No internet

2. No contact

3. Be present

4. Journal

5. Read

You might wonder whether I kept to all these rules - yes, I did. Were some of them challenging? A little — especially the first and second. But with time, they became a blessing. They gave shape to the space I needed to reconnect with myself. I’m grateful you took the time to read this piece of my story. If this touched something in you give in a heart and share your thoughts.

In the next posts, I’ll share how my days looked. How I was feeling and how I was changing along the way. And the routines I developed that still stay with me today.

Keep reading Part 4