It’s August! In most meaningful senses of the word, it is the end of Summer! We’re in the final stretch. Have you used Summer to its full advantage?
This Summer didn’t particularly feel like other Summers… I certainly didn’t think so, and I’ll bet you felt a lot of the same. First of all, it was way too hot, right? And there was a lot going on in the news. And, for reasons that go without saying now, you maybe didn’t get to take your usual Summer vacation. Whether it was because finances were tight this year or you couldn’t afford to take time off work or you didn’t feel safe travelling - vacations have been a scarce commodity this year.
But you still deserve some time to yourself. So, if you couldn’t get to Myrtle Beach or Vegas or Disney World this year, here are some tips for a great STAY-cation you can have without the hassle of travel and outside exposure.
Take some time off:
If you’re able to even take one or two days off to add on to your weekend… that makes all the difference. Your mind needs more than the usual two days to really unplug from your usual responsibilities. A weekend, we know all too well, isn’t always enough to fully unwind; certainly not to a vacation level of relaxation! If you can, adding just one or two more days (or more if you can!) will help put you in the right space for a true Staycation.
Plan some outdoor activities:
Go for a hike. Plan a picnic in the park. Take a day trip to the beach.
Whatever it is, getting some outdoor time can really help with the Staycation mindset - you typically spend your days indoors now working or otherwise. Being inside is the norm, especially on “work” days. By giving yourself a day to spend outside to connect with nature (to whatever level is most fun for you - it is your Staycation, after all), you get something you don’t usually get in your day-to-day routine. It can be very restful to not be surrounded by screens, which are omnipresent in our lives right now.
Have a truly work-free space in your home:
I know, with your laptop sitting right there, hearing the emails pinging throughout the day, it seems impossible to truly stay away for several days… but you need to!
Close your laptop. At least, log out of your email. If you’ve taken time off, it needs to be time off. The whole point is to get away from it all; just because you can’t physically get away doesn’t mean you can’t psychologically. You deserve some time just for you.
Have some special indoor activities as well:
Yes, you’re well used to spending leisure time indoors now… but you should have something more special than your usual during your Staycation!
Splurge on some face masks (the kind for your skin… not the kind that cover your nose and mouth) and have a spa night! Rent a new movie that you can’t go to theaters to see! Have a game night with your family or roommates!
My point is… do something fun and out of the ordinary that you don’t usually do every weekend. A Staycation is special, after all! During your classic vacation, you spend time doing things you don’t usually get to do at home; a Staycation should be the same way.
Make time for the things you enjoy:
What brings you happiness and peace? Jogging? Bird-watching? Trying new foods? Vegging out in front of the TV? Fine! You should do that!
At the end of the day, it is your Staycation, so it should reflect the things that you enjoy to do. It won’t look the same as your neighbors’ Staycation, or mine (especially if you enjoy jogging)... but that’s fine... because the beauty of the Staycation is that it is truly all about YOU!
These are tips that can help you make the most of your time off without breaking the bank or going out of town; but if you truly just want to binge Netflix for four days straight, you should! You know better than I do what is going to make your Staycation the most fun.
At the end of the day, just know that you deserve time off this year same as every year. It recharges you. It prepares you for the months to come. And really, it’s just fun! So treat yourself to something nice!
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Written by Jordan McAndrew