Let’s face it, no matter how good life can be, you need a break from the day-to-day. Sometimes though, that need comes at a time when your money is earmarked for other important things. Worry not, you can take the time you need without breaking the bank with the ever affordable - Staycation.
Healthy time off does not always have to be a big trip. The down time you are looking for is often just about breaking out of your routine and having great experiences to fill your memory (and social media) with.
Time away from your routine allows you to decompress and then return to your daily life with a rested mind and refreshed spark. The more often you can schedule these breaks, the better you’ll feel throughout your year.
Staycations can be as busy or quiet as you want them to be. Following are some suggestions for getting the most out of your time off.
The first thing you’ll want to do, like with any time off, is a little planning. Just what kind of theme or mood do you want for your down time? Is your time off going to be spa, tropics, hiking? Maybe it’s about catching up on your reading or watch list.
The point is, to decide in advance what you want your staycation to be about. Once you’ve done that, the planning will go much easier.
Quick question…how much time have you spent in places right where you live? You might be surprised to find hidden (and affordable) gems all around you. You can go online and look up “Places to Go” or “Things to Do” in your area.
I’m a fan of TripAdvisor for finding things both near and far. They have searches that include: Explore Places Nearby, Nearby Sites and Landmarks, Plan for Today, and much more. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find that will match the theme of your down time.
I bet it’s been a while since you’ve entertained. Here’s another great way to bring your staycation theme into play. There is a myriad of ideas for get-togethers you can have with a food, seasonal, or maybe even a movie theme to it.
Many of us enjoy socializing, but find entertaining stressful, which completely negates the point of your time off. I did you a little favor and found a great article with lots of theme ideas as well as how to put each one together. Check out: “60 Fun Dinner Party Themes and Ideas”. (I’ll be hanging onto this link for my own future parties).
Last thing to talk about for your staycation success…digital devices. I know, it is painfully difficult to put them down as they do a lot to make life easier, I think.
I’ve started a habit myself that might work for you. My time-off rule is, that at the end of a staycation day, I can go on my phone or tablet to edit photos and videos and post them.
That’s right, no social media, phone calls, texts, or emails throughout the day. Silence everything and just enjoy your time. Totally immerse yourself in the experience and enjoy the people you are with.
A side note: Life keeps happening for everyone else while you are “away”. I reduce my “worry factor” by having the important people in my life listed in my favorites on my phone. So, if they call or text when I am on digital incommunicado, I know it is important and I can respond.
There is no one way to do a staycation. It can be about relaxation, culture, parties and more. The only thing that matters is that you do it the right way for you and enjoy some well-deserved time off for good behavior.
We’d love to hear how your staycation goes. So, drop us a line in the comments and bon voyage, or should I say bon stay-put…
Please note: neither the author nor The Latest View have been compensated by either TripAdvisor or Intentional Hospitality.
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