Staycation

Cara

Oct 15, 20174 min read

I should be sipping cocktails on the beach in Cancun right now, or perhaps exploring the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, swimming in a natural cenote pool, or biking around Isla Mujeres. But courtesy of a tropical storm turned hurricane, I am sitting on my couch pondering the best way to enjoy my unintentional “Staycation.” That got me thinking about how many people are not able to travel due to time or financial constraints but how the benefits can still be enjoyed right in your own home with a little preplanning. As Marcel Proust says, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

I would have to say the first rule of Staycation is ditching your kids if you have any. A weekend with the grandparents is mutually beneficial so make arrangements to ship them off. Next complete any work or school assignments and let your colleagues know you are unavailable as if you are out of the country without access. Use the out-of-office autoreply on your emails and leave a trusted coworker in charge so you can fully relax. If you don’t have to worry about the safety and sanity of said kids and grandparents, even turn your phone off for a few days (you won’t need that alarm anyways!). Pay your bills and complete any pesky to-do list items that would distract you so that once your Staycation commences, there is nothing in the way of receiving the peace and calm of a traditional holiday. If anything does break through this barrier, practice controlling your reactions as to not disrupt your well-deserved time off and reserve action for true emergencies only. Ask yourself, “If I was halfway around the world enjoying my vacation, what could I do about this?” Shrug your shoulders and return to your state of zen.

Like any true vacation, you have many options of where to stay. If you can spring for it, get a nice hotel nearby for a couple nights and let someone else do your cooking and cleaning. It doesn’t have to be super fancy, just nice enough that you won’t be disgusted or disturbed. With proper planning, Staycation bliss can be achieved in a budget friendly manner right in your own home. For maximum benefit, your house should be clean and free of clutter. Put a fresh set of high quality sheets on your bed and add special touches like a linen spray or chocolates on the pillows. Make sure your space is at a comfortable temperature (who else cranks the A/C up at the hotel before getting under the mountain of blankets?). Make sure all household tasks are completed or able to be put off prior to your start date such as laundry, groceries, and lawn maintenance. Avoid making any appointments or commitments; they will still be there in a few days. Once ready, take a few moments to appreciate the clean slate you’ve created for yourself and know it is always at your disposal anytime.

The one thing you have to do, and is often the greatest pleasure of a holiday, is to eat. Certainly there are restaurants in your town you have not tried or are considered special to you for any number of reasons. Book a reservation in advance at the latest hard to get hot spot or explore a new part of town. To capture the feeling of travel, focus on ethnic eateries or seek restaurants with great views. Even use public transportation, ridesharing, or walk as if you were out of town (yay more wine!). Vacations also come with the option of room service, which can be enjoyed at home using delivery, grub hub, or uber eats. If cooking is a passion which you don’t usually have time for, by all means indulge, but there’s the whole cleanup problem with that so proceed with caution. There are also personal chef services which will cook in your home as well as serve and clean. Enjoy breakfast in bed or plan a picnic lunch in the park, and by all means get the dessert!

When thinking about what you’d like to do on your Staycation, consider what you enjoy doing when you travel or tune into what your body needs at that moment. From a jam packed day of activities to relaxing by the pool with a book (or a nice balance of both), the choice is yours. You can “See The World Without Leaving Home” in a number of ways such as visiting museums and historical sites, hiking or biking locally, checking out concerts and sporting events, or enjoying local fairs and festivals. Take a day trip to a winery, beach, or the mountains if you’re lucky enough to be nearby. Book a massage or treat yourself to a mani-pedi (men too!). Or feel free to do absolutely nothing but catch up on sleep and Netflix! I am based in Atlanta, so here is what I was able to do with my unplanned Staycation: