Staying at home doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a little time off like you normally would during the summer months. In fact, a staycation might be exactly what you need. The key is knowing how to plan one like a pro. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Don’t Fall Into the Staycation Trap
The single biggest barrier that stands in your way of a perfect staycation is the idea that you have to be productive in order to fully enjoy your time off at home. Do not fall into this trap! If you suffer a bite from the productivity bug, you’ll likely find that you spend too much time doing work around the house and not enough time doing things that you actually want to be doing. If you’re taking a full week for yourself, spend one day catching up on housework and no more. Place healthy limits on “productive” activities! Storage units might be a great place to store large items and some additional clutter, but you don’t have to spend a full week cleaning yours out. If you really need to feel productive, complete one or two household tasks each day of your staycation. Even something as simple as making your bed every morning can help you feel more productive and accomplished.
Sleep In
It’s an incredibly simple step to take, but we often don’t realize just how strained our sleep schedules are until it’s too late. When almost 45% of Americans have trouble falling asleep at night, it becomes apparent just how much might be keeping us awake at night. So when you’re planning the ultimate staycation, make sure you’re taking the time to prioritize your sleep. If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, consider trying out a new before bed routine. If you’re not sure what to include, here are a few recommendations.
- Turn off all screens at least 30 minutes before bed.
- Apply a face mask to soothe your skin.
- Read for an hour before you go to sleep.
- Write in a gratitude journal right before you go to bed.
- Establish a set time to get into bed.
- Practice deep breathing or meditate before you go to bed.
It might not seem like it, but the habits you establish before we go to sleep at night can have a big impact on how quickly you fall asleep and how well you sleep throughout the night. If you’re well-rested, you’ll be able to enjoy your staycation that much more!
Do One Thing You Love Every Day
One of the many reasons people bemoan the 40-hour work-week is that it leaves barely any time for fulfilling activities. So when you’re at home planning the ultimate staycation, make time every day to do at least one thing that you love or that brings you joy. Maybe you’ve had a book on your bedside table for months but just haven’t had the energy to read it. If you’ve really been looking forward to it, then make a little bit of time every day to read a chapter or two. Love to bake? Learn a new recipe one day and spend the next delivering treats to your friends! Sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring us joy, and it’s on us to create space for those things in our lives.
Get Outside!
Whether you live near a gorgeous state park or you just have a little bit of green space in your backyard, it’s important to get outside during your staycation. Fresh air and nature have been proven to reduce stress levels and improve your mood. Even looking at pictures of natural scenery can be a mood booster. But if you want to plan the ultimate staycation, the real thing is much better. And if you want to try your hand at some outdoor activities, a backyard garden is the perfect place to start. Considering almost 113.5 million people have gardened at some point in the last 12 months, there are plenty of resources out there for you to utilize if you have questions. If you want to simplify it a bit, consider starting out with some window planters for flowers or fresh herbs. And if you’re not a gardener or a hiker, just sit out on the porch for a little while every day to get some fresh air.
Planning the ultimate staycation doesn’t have to be a hassle. In fact, the very act of planning it can help you start the relaxation process early! With these tips and some time to yourself, your staycation will be the best one ever.
