And all of these things are helped by the act of making a retreat, whether it's in an easy chair or at a monastery. The key is to find a place that is quiet, where your solitude will be respected and you are set apart from your daily routine. Take the bare essentials for your comfort and health, and keep your schedule simple. Your retreat could include reading, thinking, praying, journaling, playing music, creative writing or drawing and even periods of silence. Take along a notebook and pen to record new ideas and insights.
Prayer is an integral part of Benedictine life.
St. Benedict doesn't say much about prayer methodology in the Rule. Keep your prayer simple and to the point, he says. If you want to pray, well then, pray. If prayer is simple, if all we have to do is do it, then we can relax. It can be done in the shower or in the car.