Making Staycations Special
After months of staying pretty close to home, you may be feeling that you have exhausted ways to make home special at all - so how could a staycation be special?
Many clients I speak to are wishing they could wait it out before taking holidays until travel opportunities open up further. But the truth is, we need rest for our overall quality of life of overall wellness. We need to rejuvenate and spend time focusing on the relationships and revitalization that provides the energy to continue. We need to rediscover the joy that brought us to our homesteads in the first place.
Staycations are more than just taking time off work and staying home. They require planning just like any other holiday. It could be argued that it is more difficult to feel relaxed after a staycation than any other type of adventure.
Why?
It is so hard to relax at home. It’s a challenge to unplug. It seems impossible to neglect the chores and continual red tape of life.
Staycations was a term, long before COVID19, and the popularity of the concept was gaining some excellent momentum despite it. But COVID19 has imposed it on many of us, so we might as well embrace it.
Think of your home as a Caribbean resort. Ok, it may not look or feel like that, but the aspects you enjoy at an all-inclusive getaway can be enjoyed at home.
There is one fundamental key to successfully planning a staycation.
It needs to be planned.
Here’s how:
Set a start and end date. Pretend you are heading out on road trip or flight, and you know the day you are coming back. Don’t swerve from that.
Plan together what you want to do ahead of time. Search, brainstorm and schedule activities you want to do alone or jointly. Ensure that everyone has participated in acquiring the staycation bucket list.
Unplug. You may not turn off the television, emails or phones entirely, but I would advise you to try it as much as you can. Offer yourself rules or check-in times, so you can try to model and respect the awareness that electronics do consume us during our daily lives, and you are intentional not to allow it during your holiday.
Be a tourist in your hometown. Try a reputable coffee shop, a new pizzeria, ice cream shop or a community event. If you haven’t checked out your local farmers market or walking trails in a while, take it in. Ask your neighbours and friends what unique things you can experience and shop local during your vacay. There are often free events that are right under your nose and can be sourced through the internet or local guide books.
Try something new. You already have all the ideas, so now is a great time to challenge yourself to try a new hobby, skill or activity. It can be done at home or in your community alone or with your staycation family or companions. You may opt to try a volunteer opportunity or help someone in need. It may not be high on your bucket list but may become a highlight in someone else’s summer!
Mark the memories! Be intentional to take photos and capture the plans and activities of your staycation. Experiences create memories. Snap them up and share for years to come.
Staycations can be rewarding, less stressful and more affordable than travelling.
You may just fall in love with your home all over again.
