Offsites as Therapy? How Retreats Support Mental Wellbeing at Work

What if your next company offsite wasn’t just about strategy or team bonding, but about healing? For years, organizations have used retreats to recharge their teams. But as burnout, stress, and fatigue keep rising, it’s becoming clear that offsites can play a much deeper role: helping people rest, reconnect, and reset their mental balance.

At Get Lost, we’ve seen how thoughtful retreat design can change the rhythm of a company. When teams step away from the noise, they often return calmer, closer, and more focused.

The Mental Health Storm at Work

Work today rarely allows for recovery. Most people juggle constant deadlines, notifications, and blurred boundaries between home and office. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy over $1 trillion every year in lost productivity. Gallup found that nearly 60% of employees feel emotionally detached from their jobs.

With numbers like these, taking your team offsite isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. Time away from screens and schedules gives people space to breathe and rebuild resilience.

What Makes a Retreat Therapeutic

Not every offsite eases stress. A tightly packed schedule filled with meetings and icebreakers can actually drain people further. The difference lies in intention. The goal isn’t to fill time, but to create room for rest and reflection.

Here’s what defines a truly restorative retreat:

• Real downtime - Space for silence, rest, or a simple walk gives minds a chance to slow down.
  

• Connection with nature - Being surrounded by calm environments helps lower stress hormones and sharpen focus.
  

• Psychological safety - When people feel comfortable being themselves, real trust forms.
  

• Choice and freedom - No one should feel forced into activities. Give room for personal pace.
  

• Lasting integration - The retreat should inspire changes that continue once everyone is back at work.
  

How Retreats Support Mental Wellbeing

Well-designed offsites can nurture mental health in ways that daily routines rarely allow.

1. Attention restoration Our minds lose focus after constant digital engagement. Time in natural, quiet spaces helps the brain recharge, restoring clarity and creativity.
   

2. Human connection We thrive on belonging. Shared meals, open conversations, and relaxed moments rebuild empathy and dissolve tension that accumulates in fast-paced work environments.
   

3. Fresh perspective Changing scenery shifts thinking. Teams that step away from the usual setting often rediscover motivation and new approaches to old challenges.
   

4. Reflection and meaning Retreats encourage people to pause, process, and remember why their work matters. That sense of purpose fuels motivation far more than a bonus or speech ever could.
   

5. Safety and rest When leadership encourages stillness, it sends a message: mental wellbeing isn’t a reward, it’s a priority.
   

Designing an Offsite That Heals

The most effective retreats are well-balanced, combining structure and spaciousness. Below are guiding principles to consider:

Principle	Application
Balance structure with space	Alternate guided sessions with downtime so people can recharge.
Set clear intentions	Frame the retreat as a time for renewal, not just productivity.
Encourage small-group connection	Smaller settings allow honest conversation and stronger trust.
Include body and mind	Gentle movement, nature walks, or journaling support relaxation.
Work with skilled facilitators	Experienced hosts know how to hold space and read group energy.
Choose peaceful locations	Natural settings promote calm and clarity.
Prepare participants	Let people know what to expect so they arrive with openness.
Follow up	Keep momentum through post-retreat check-ins or short reflections.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even with good intentions, offsites can fall short if the details are overlooked.

• Too many sessions. A crowded agenda leaves no mental space to rest.
  

• Surface-level wellness. If leadership doesn’t participate, it can feel performative.
  

• One-size-fits-all plans. People have different comfort levels; flexibility keeps everyone included.
  

• Neglecting logistics. Long travel, poor sleep, or inadequate meals can undo the retreat’s benefits.
  

• No follow-through. Without post-retreat reflection, the sense of renewal fades quickly.
  

Mindful design turns a pleasant getaway into something genuinely restorative.

Measuring Impact

You can often feel the difference after a good retreat, but it’s worth measuring, too.

• Compare pre- and post-retreat surveys for stress, satisfaction, and sense of connection.
  

• Track retention and absenteeism in the following months.
  

• Gather employee reflections on focus and collaboration.
  

• Observe cultural changes—how people talk, listen, and show empathy afterward.
  

The real success of a retreat shows up in how people work and treat each other once they return.

Rethinking What “Work” Needs

Offsites aren’t just rewards for hard work; they’re a way to restore what constant pressure takes away. Like therapy for a team, they give people space to reconnect—with each other and with themselves.

At Get Lost, we design company offsites that balance wellness and purpose. Each retreat is built to help teams slow down, breathe, and return stronger, grounded, inspired, and ready to thrive long after the experience ends.

If your organization is ready to move beyond traditional team-building, let’s create a retreat that truly supports your people’s mental health. Get in touch with Get Lost to start planning an offsite that brings calm, clarity, and connection back to work.