Sometimes it’s difficult to keep in mind that a traveling vacation is a luxury, not a right. Though time off from work is something mandated by government and required for the healthy functioning of employees, going away for a week or more is not always something that we can do.
There is a plethora of reasons for this, from responsibilities to your family, difficult to manage travel logistics, health restrictions, an inability to relax outside of home, to the most popular reason: a restrictive budget. Going away on vacation can quickly add up to be a huge expense, as you need to cover the cost of travel, accommodation, food, drinks, entertainment, and more. That’s why more and more people are opting to vacation at home, enjoying a “staycation”, instead than blowing their budget on an expensive trip to a different city or country.
However, when enjoying a staycation, it’s important that you don’t let this designated time off just become an elongated weekend without any memorable experiences. If you want to really make the most of your staycation and make it a restful and enjoyable time, try the following ideas:
- Designate Your Chore Time
It’s near impossible to be at home and not want to do at least some chores like deep cleaning the carpets, running the laundry, or restocking the pantry; all things you would never do if you were away on vacation. Embrace the need and dedicate one day to getting these errands out of the way so that you can relax the rest of the time. If anything else comes up during the week, defer it until later, as this is your vacation time and you need to take this opportunity to self-care and let loose. Besides, it’s normal that once you come back from a trip there will be a couple of loads of laundry to do and some unpacking going on. This way, you’re getting it done at the beginning so you can go back to work rested, not tired from the flight or drive home coupled with a night of unpacking.
- Discover Your City
Whether you live in a small town or a bustling city, there’s always something to do. Whether it means visiting the library and taking a couple of interesting books out, seeing the new exhibit at the local gallery or having brunch at a diner you always wanted to try, now is your chance. Don’t limit yourself with business hours and take this opportunity to see your home town through the eyes of a tourist or a guest. Alternately, plan a series of day trips within driving distance of home. Though you might spend a bit on fuel, you can always pack a picnic, and remember that you don’t have to get a hotel!
- Show Yourself Some Love
The point of vacation is that it gives your body and your mind a chance to rebound from the stresses of the everyday. Though some require an exodus from home to do that, many find that actually staying at home eliminates a lot of other stressors like finalizing travel arrangements, booking everything, making reservations, planning itineraries, and dealing with the credit card bill once it comes in. But other than just not having those additional worries, why not show yourself an especially good time? Engage in your favorite hobbies, drop in on some yoga classes or get a manicure pedicure that you otherwise wouldn’t treat yourself to. Remember, you’re saving money by not going away, so take some of those savings and apply them directly to your happiness and well-being. Find a beautiful retreat where spa, body, and facial treatment are offered by a team of highly trained and experienced therapists who know exactly what you need in order to recharge your “batteries” to 100%.
- Meet with Friends
When we are rushing between work, errands, responsibilities, and more, it’s easy to neglect relationships with those who we cherish. Take this time to schedule a couple of lunch dates with friends, go out for drinks in the evenings, and maybe meet someone new at a mixer which you would otherwise write off because you need to get up early the next day. Since you have a flexible schedule, it makes it easier to coordinate with friends who otherwise are also busy with everyday things. You won’t regret setting some time apart for rekindling and maintaining relationships during your vacation time.
- Have a Plan
Most importantly, if you don’t want to feel like the whole thing zipped by and you did nothing at all, make a sort of plan or guideline of things that you want to do during your staycation. It will keep you motivated to stay busy doing things you enjoy and creating memories you will be able to recount when you’re back at your desk working.
Staycationing is an easy way to keep your budget on track. However, remember to make the most of your time off from work and that you return rested, happy, and satisfied with how you spent your vacation.
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