By Tiffany Robinson
Wellness Programs Specialist
If you’re staying close to home this summer, staycations (stay-at-home vacations) can be a super-fun and rewarding way to holiday with lots of benefits. In addition to saving on travel costs and fossil fuel emissions, staycations are a great way to appreciate the awesome elements of your local surroundings, like a tourist in your own backyard.
Here are a few tips to help you plan and enjoy a successful staycation:
- Set the dates. Just like if you were travelling, book your dates and set an auto-response for your email and voicemail. Tip: avoid work–be in vacation mode!
- Set the stage. Try to complete any to-do’s, like laundry or house cleaning, before your staycation begins. Consider preparing your home or living space as if a special friend were coming for a stay (that’s you!). Tip: fresh cut flowers, chocolates on pillows, fresh air and a tidy living space go a long way.
- Mix it up…with a theme. They say a change is as good as a rest. A key to a successful staycation is not doing your usual routine. So, if you’re typically a night owl, plan some early morning adventures. If you tend to eat the same foods, branch out and try something new. Tip: pick a theme inspired by a favourite genre of music, country, or cuisine and weave it through your time.
- Pick what you love. Your staycation can look like anything, so notice which comforts and local activities you’d like to include in your perfect at-home holiday. Tip: consider recreational activities, new or favourite nature spots, books, movies, games, food, beverages, music and cozy places to nap.
- Try a deep local mind-set: When we see or do things regularly, our minds can adopt a ‘been there, done that’ mind-set. When we dismiss what’s familiar, it can limit the depth of our experiences…and the fun. Instead, be like a kid! Play with the idea of visiting your home and local surroundings as if it were the first time. When your mind dismisses stuff as the same ol’ same ol’, bring a lens of curiosity and openness to your experiences and surroundings, and try not to judge. Tip: Notice your five senses as much as you can. Set an intention to be present for your deep local staycation.
Want to learn skills to develop a deep local mind-set? Join us for a 4-session webinar series starting August 11 called Living with Change & Uncertainty or our 6-session Tools for Managing Stress & Burnout series starting September. More information is available online.