Seaford, East Sussex (PRWEB UK) 7 September 2012

As the holiday season draws to a close many people are returning to work full of good intentions aimed at helping them hang onto that holiday feel-good factor. Holidays are a time to refresh and renew, a chance for many of us do a little inner exploration, and to reconnect with ourselves and our families. So whether it is creating space for a hobby, time out for personal development, or simply slowing the pace, it is almost inevitable that we return from our break with personal goals for improving our quality of life. It is equally inevitable that within days many people will be wondering just what happened to that good intent. and some will even lapse into post holiday blues.

It is easy to plan to lead a better life when real life the daily demands of work, family and all the rest are put on hold for the holiday. But things are quite different when we step back into our routines. Pressures of being back at work aside, there are also the stresses of how and where we live our lives which contribute. For example, most holidays are pleasant and relaxing because of where we choose to take them. Time in the mountains or on the beach is qualitatively different from time spent on the school-run or in the office. While there may be stress involved in navigating a foreign menu or entertaining the kids, this is quite different from the monotony of the daily commute, dealing with demanding colleagues, being indoors all day or looking after a home and family.

While one answer to this quandary is to take time by taking regular breaks, for many this falls into the 'good intentions' category; it is easily trumped by the daily life demands. So the dilemma is to find a way of taking care of oneself that brings some of the benefits of a holiday into the routine side of life, to create the personal space to pause, reflect and refresh.

The Inner Landscapes approach uses short personal development retreats that combine thought-provoking workshop activities with walking in inspirational settings. These events bring together three advantageous elements: the transformative power of a group, the natural environment, and the opportunity to step off the treadmill. Taken together these combine to help foster processes that aid focus, reduce stress, and clarify thinking. In short they provide a supportive and convivial setting to indulge in some effective personal development.

The concept is the result of two years study and preparation by psychologist and personal development consultant Barry Winbolt. After 20 years as leading workshops aimed at helping employees beat stress and lead more productive working lives, he has turned his attention to helping people achieve better understanding of themselves, so that they can take control of their lives. "In all the years that I have been training people, it became increasingly obvious that the real answer to wellbeing lies within us. When it comes to a sense of personal fulfillment, the successful people all have insight into what makes them tick and where they want to go in their lives", he said. This line of thinking led to a radical new concept that has become Inner Landscapes. Carefully developed personal development retreats and workshops provide attendees with the opportunity to pause and reflect. The purpose, says the founder, "is to guide people to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives through an understanding of life changes, transitions, meaning and purpose." So those good intentions don't have to vanish just because the holiday is over.

About Inner Landscapes East Sussex based Inner Landscapes was founded in 2011 by Barry Winbolt, to provide retreats and workshops to enable people to find greater satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives. The organisation uses reflective personal development techniques, that include walking in the natural environment, combined with carefully structured workshops and exercises held indoors, in settings chosen for their comfort.

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New Approach to Personal Development Helps People De-stress and Keep their Lives on Track