· Brittany Ellich · reflection  · 5 min read

A weekend away - reflections from Skamania Lodge

For our birthdays this year, my partner and I decided to each take a weekend to do something we truly enjoy. With three young kids at home, it’s difficult for us to get away at the same time, so we opted for separate solo weekends as a way to carve out some personal space without the stress of managing everything back home simultaneously.

My partner went snowboarding in British Columbia with a friend earlier this month, and I chose to spend a weekend at Skamania Lodge by myself. The idea of dedicating an entire weekend to only the things I enjoy—without the responsibilities of being a wife, mom, pet owner, employee, or any of the other roles I juggle—was freeing.

I selected Skamania for its proximity to home (less than an hour’s drive—because who wants to spend all day on the road?) and because the Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places in the world. Seriously, the scenery is breathtaking.

So, what did I do during my weekend getaway, and what did I bring back with me? Here are some of the key insights I gained from this precious gift of space, along with a few pictures to share the experience.


Insights from My Weekend Away

1. Being Alone is Tough (But Worth It)

You might assume that, having worked remotely for most of my adult life, I would be a pro at spending time alone. But I still find it challenging. Maybe it’s because the past few years have been filled with keeping my three kids entertained, but truly relaxing was surprisingly hard!

I also realized I haven’t really built the muscle to go out and do things solo. At first, I hesitated. But, of course, when I needed to eat, I had no choice but to leave the room. So, I took the opportunity to explore Stevenson, Washington, and spent some time enjoying my own company.

A view of the Columbia River Gorge. There's a river, a clear blu sky, green grass, and some rolling hills in the background

2. Mom Guilt is Real

I spent a good part of the weekend wondering how things were going back at home—not because I didn’t trust my partner, but because I felt this overwhelming need to help with the kids. This inner tug-of-war made it difficult to fully relax. I found myself debating whether I should just drive back for a few hours to give my partner a break while I spent time with the kids… but I didn’t.

I’ve realized I have a bit of a control issue, and stepping away from that was hard, but it also felt like a moment of personal growth. And when I finally saw my kids on Sunday morning, it made the reunion that much sweeter.

A view of the Columbia River Gorge at sunset from the window

3. I Thrive on Space

This is something I’ve touched on before, most recently during my appearance on the Ardan Labs Podcast. I do my best work when I have the space to think and breathe.

Having unstructured time to just be helped me reflect on what I truly want, and allowed me to prioritize things that had been sitting on my mind. I spent time journaling (which felt incredibly grounding), tackled a few organizational tasks, and finally got through some content I’d been saving for a while!

This experience has me considering planning a “staycation retreat” week—just taking some time off to focus on my personal projects and side quests.

A coffee cup from Longbottom coffee and tea in front of a fireplace

4. I Need to Organize My “Side Quests” Elsewhere

For a while now, I’ve been stacking my personal “side quests” alongside work tasks in a single To-Do list in Obsidian, and honestly, it’s no longer scaling. Since I’m focusing more on these side projects, they need to be better organized and kept separate from my work tasks to make it easier to focus on each.

I think I’ve found a solution for this using ClickUp, and I’m excited to share how it’s working for me in an upcoming post!

A coffee cup in front of a window with a view of the Columbia River Gorge in the background

5. It’s So Much Easier to Plan the Work Than to Actually Do It

I’m really good at planning. In fact, I sometimes think of planning and prioritizing as my “developer superpower.” It’s the one thing I seem to do slightly better than average, and it often helps me get things done.

However, I’ve fallen into the trap of spending more time planning than executing. Case in point: I spent several hours playing ClickUp poker over the weekend, but did it bring me closer to publishing anything? Not really.

Recognizing this pattern is progress, though! The next time I catch myself overthinking or getting bogged down in organizing rather than executing, I hope I can catch it sooner and pivot to something more productive.

A cozy fireplace with a chair and table in front of it, with a computer open and a crochet project on the table


Conclusion

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend—a much-needed reset. I got a lot of clarity around my goals and ambitions, and I accomplished some meaningful things. I also indulged in simple pleasures: crocheting, listening to the new Onyx Storm book by Rebecca Yarros, diving into podcasts, and sipping coffee while soaking in the stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge.

I think this might just be my new favorite way to celebrate my birthday!

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