I like retreats because of the camaraderie. We ask questions, make suggestions and praise finishes and progress. If I get tired of being in front of my machine, I walk about and talk to others, go for a walk around the retreat property or take a nap. I also take audio books but most importantly I get up and move when I need to so I can enjoy my time away from other distractions.
I take one project to work on start to finish and usually walk away with a finished top. A second project comes along such as a block of the month or exchange blocks just to switch up my perspective. But no more. I can easily get distracted by squirrels and go home with lots of starts and no finishes.
In my quilting group we have some that NEVER go to retreats, some that never miss a retreat. To wrap it up, I have deepened friendships and gotten to know others during my time at retreats. To me that is as important as the finished quilt top.