Can’t travel to Thailand? Me neither. Here’s how to plan a mindful weekend at home

Living in big creative cities like Los Angeles, New York, and London, you develop a sense of pride about how you struggle for your art. There’s something brave in pursuing a career based on passion, like writing, rather than devoting your life to investment banking, where at least the paycheck makes up for the grueling hours and self-degradation.

But all my pride goes out of the window when I watch a show like The White Lotus, which puts the benefits of exorbitant wealth on display. Lavish vacations, wardrobes bursting with designer clothes, luxe hairstyles that look great even on vacation, and luscious stays at places like The White Lotus. Season 3’s Thailand setting has us dreaming of lush jungle views, swaying in ocean-side hammocks, and a wellness regimen curated by a suspiciously attractive Russian named Valentin. 

Sadly, most of us don’t have a trust fund to finance a weeklong escape into the depths of our own neuroses. Nor do we have a willing audience of spa attendants to bear witness to our existential crises and worst moments. To be fair, I do turn into the worst version of myself on vacation, but it’s never been as bad as what goes on with any of those guests. The staff at White Lotus Hotels deserve Purple Hearts and Nobel Peace Prizes for surviving the chaos they’ve witnessed and endured.

Though the hotel is fictional, the lifestyle is not. And yes, the show brilliantly exposes the pitfalls of thoughtless tourism — and the privileged people who fuel it with their existential emptiness, financial crime, and a whole lot of murder and betrayal. But we can’t help but think: well, if we had all that money, we’d use it way better.

I think of that every time I look at Lachlan’s shirts. I think of that every time I cringe about the IRS getting its hands on the Ratliffe fortune — give it to me instead!! But alas, since the only sign of upward mobility in this show has come from murder and marriage to a murderer, I think I’ll keep my life, thank you very much. And, instead, plan a wellness weekend inspired by White Lotus.

If you, like me, aren’t going to Thailand anytime soon (although my vision board is up and my hotel bucket list is full and spilling over!) So, join me in booking resort-level mindfulness at a fraction of the cost.

How to Have a White Lotus-Level Wellness Weekend (On a Budget)

The aspirational scenery in White Lotus Season 3 isn’t just Season 2’s sweeping coastline views or in-room plunge pools like Season 1. Part of the luxury is the amenity-rich resort filled with world-class (if not chaotic) staff catering to the guests’ every need. However, there is so much to be said about the state of mind being promoted as a luxury good in White Lotus Season 3.

How ironic. No, paradoxical: the richest people in the world are given all the tools to completely relax and unwind. Yet, not one of them is relaxed — they spend more time entangled in murderous situations than unwinding. 

Yet, wellness and the decadence of time off seem like luxuries now more than ever. Time is the greatest asset the rich have. They can spend it traveling without worrying about the future or bills — giving their brains a serious break. Meanwhile, the rest of us work multiple gigs just to keep ourselves afloat — only buoyed by our pride in following our passions. 

But don’t let a lack of generational wealth stop you from achieving White Lotus-level relaxation. With a bit of creativity (and a lot less emotional baggage), you can channel the show’s high-end wellness vibe for a fraction of the cost. And all this sans the fear that your wellness retreat will end with you floating facedown in an infinity pool. 

You simply need a bit of creativity and the will to let yourself relax. It sounds simple, but often, we think overscheduling ourselves helps us get more done. Without time to rest, your brain slows down — and all that hustle goes to waste. Rest is productive, and nourishing yourself is spiritually rewarding.

Take a cue from your favorite chaotic characters and put yourself first. After a weekend of pampering, you’ll discover how simple it is to take even 15 minutes for yourself during a lunch break or before bed — and that can make all the difference.

Plus, finding real relaxation puts you way ahead of the White Lotus guests. Here’s how to plan a White Lotus-inspired weekend at home.

1. Don’t turn on the big light – Try red light instead

If The White Lotus has taught us anything, it’s that ambiance is everything. The Thailand resort is dripping in muted neutrals, lush greenery, and Buddhist iconography meant to inspire a sense of peace. The good news? You don’t need an all-inclusive resort to curate your own wellness vibe. While wellness is more than its aesthetic, setting a visual vibe doesn’t hurt. It sends a cue to your head that it’s time to relax.

Take Piper, for example, the middle Ratliffe sibling who wants to walk the walk and move to Thailand to spend her life reaching nirvana in a meditation center. Even surrounded by the resort’s peaceful vibe, she lights a candle before sitting down to meditate. You can do the same. Light a candle, take a few deep breaths, and listen to a guided meditation online.

You can take it one step further by decluttering your home and giving it a complete reset. Start by clearing out any clutter — because nothing reminds you of your (albeit necessary) attachment to earthly possessions like a pile of unopened bills glaring at you from your coffee table. Then, set the mood: dim the lights, burn some incense, and cue up a sound bath playlist. Keep in mind that spirituality isn’t a decor trend — unlike some of the show’s oblivious guests, we’re here to appreciate, not appropriate.

For an even deeper immersion, get a red light mask. Ambient lighting gets you in the mood to relax, red light makes your skin glow while doing it. 

2. Indulge in an Everything Shower

Reading the spa menu as a White Lotus guest must be a heavenly experience. Just imagining all the treatments on offer would send me to a higher plane. I’m certain that they offer services like full-body scrubs, deep-tissue massages, facials, hot stone therapy. And that’s in addition to the posture-correcting services and foot massages we’ve seen the show’s guests receive.

But you don’t need all this to bring the experience home. As a certified body product connoisseur, I believe you can get spa-smooth skin at home. All you have to do is take an everything shower. 

For ultimate relaxation from the comfort of your own shower take these steps:

• Dry Brush Your Skin to slough off any dead skin and prep your skin for the detox process that’s to come
• Do a Body Mask. While trendy masks for your body can cost a pretty penny, repurpose face masks that are too strong for your face — think: the Aztec Indian Clay Healing Mask we all have under our sink. And use it on your body. Budget-friendly and cost-effective.
• Oil Train Your Hair. While your mask is in, apply an oil-based hair mask and let it sit while your body mask dries. Then, massage it into your scalp before you step in the shower.
• Do a Hair Scrub. Start your hair washing with a relaxing scrub that build upon your scalp massage. Detox your scalp and clear your mind.
• Double-cleanse your hair. You’ve heard of double cleansing for your face. But after getting to the root of your hair buildup, you’ll want to rinse and repeat. It will also make sure all the oil is out.
• Condition your hair from the middle to the ends. Make sure all the suds are out before moving on to the portion of your everything shower that focuses on the body.
• Do a body scrub using whatever you have in your pantry. Brown sugar and coconut oil work wonders. For bonus points, use an exfoliating tool like a loofah or a scrub brush.
• Follow up with a face mask. With your pores nice and open from your long shower, it will feel good to vacuum all the gunk out of your pores — and let the stress go down the drain.
• Consider a lymphatic drainage massage. Use a body gua sha to help your body’s natural detox process and calm yourself down.

For an added layer of White Lotus-inspired extra-ness, wrap yourself in a plush towel, sip a turmeric latte, and scroll your favorite horoscope app like you’re Tanya getting a tarot reading.

3. Digital Detox: Embrace the Art of Doing Absolutely Nothing

A central theme of The White Lotus — aside from murder and the ethical dilemmas of the unctuously rich — is the notion that modern life makes it impossible to unplug. Season 3 leans into this with its resort-wide emphasis on mindfulness, though its guests spend just as much time on their phones as they do in Downward Dog. Picture Jason Isaacs running around looking for service. Or Carrie Coon explaining her high-end job to Russian scam artists (but to be fair, they had impressive abs).

For your at-home retreat, take a true digital detox. Put your phone on airplane mode, keep it in another room, and actually commit to spending a few hours doing absolutely nothing. Lounge in bed, read the novel you’ve been meaning to get to, and engage in some self-reflection that doesn’t involve curating an aesthetically pleasing BeReal.

4. Dine Like You’re at a Five-Star Resort

At The White Lotus, each meal is a sublime experience. Who can forget the times the characters in Season 2 insisted on eating in the hotel when Sicily was at their doorstep? So, the chain must host great meals. While you may not have a private chef prepping your meals, you can still treat yourself to a wellness-inspired menu without maxing out your credit card.

No need to recreate an Erewhon smoothie, either. Start with whole foods and make cooking at home feel like a luxury. Instead of nuking a Trader Joe’s meal or scarfing down mac and cheese from out of the pan, start by doing the simple things you never take the time for. Find a recipe you’ve saved, buy all the ingredients, and take your time cooking it. Play some music. Whistle while you work. When it’s done, plate it beautifully and savor the flavors without watching TV. Remind yourself that the little things are worth the effort.

The key is to make mealtime feel like an event, so set the table, use the fancy glassware, and practice your best “I am so deeply, deeply self-satisfied” expression. Bonus points if you sigh dramatically before taking a sip, just to really sell the romanticization.

5. Meditate, Move, and Pretend You’re Enlightened

It wouldn’t be a White Lotus weekend without yoga — or some kind of stretching. The resort guests do so much yoga even though they’re getting tired of it. And while Jaclyn insists: “we can do yoga in LA!” The studios near me cost upwards of $20 a session. No thanks. 

Luckily, there are so many fine online resources — even if you haven’t done at-home yoga since the pandemic. Try a morning yoga flow, a guided meditation, or even just a deep-breathing exercise that reminds you to chill out. If you want to take it a step further, journal about what you’re grateful for — like the fact that you’re not caught up in a money laundering scheme or married to someone who just might have murderous intentions.