21 Jan Here’s Why a Staycation is the Pandemic Relief Solution You Need

Travel plans? What travel plans? While the world is on lockdown, it might sound impossible to really take a step back from your responsibilities and relax. But you might find that a staycation is just the stress-relieving experience you need. Learn more about why a staycation could be the answer to your pandemic problems.

Vacationing Means Enforced Relaxation

If you’ve been working at home during quarantine, just walking into the living room can feel like being barricaded into a cubicle. A local staycation affords you the opportunity to go out and do . . . well, nothing — if that’s what you want.

Technically, a staycation does involve sleeping at home — though you could investigate safe stay options in nearby hotels that follow COVID-19 cleaning protocols. Either way, during the day, your mission is to abandon all work and other responsibilities and do something you enjoy.

Setting Aside Time for Hobbies is a Must

A staycation can also involve granting yourself permission to enjoy the things you usually keep from yourself. From movie marathons to reading entire books in one sitting, pick a relatively healthy indulgence and put it — and only it — on your staycation schedule.

Don’t forget to break for snacks, a good stretch, and even a face mask or skin treatment. Standard self-care habits do apply to your at-home vacation. All in all, staying comfortable is the name of the game.

On that note, forget your Zoom meeting attire and stick to comfy clothing for your mini-break. If your old sweatpants are too tired to hold up to a staycation, think about splurging on some new clothing items you can keep using well after your time off ends.

Invest in comfortable bras, versatile bottoms that can be dressed up or down, and standard tees that don’t have holes in them — because really, it’s not a vacation unless you pamper yourself with a few new wardrobe items.

Staycations Can Feature Free Entertainment

Sure, there are limits to where you can go and what you can do these days. But don’t let the limitations stop you from completely indulging. One excellent entertainment option is free and even restorative: getting outside and into nature.

Going for a leisurely walk in the park, hiking a local trail, or sitting by a lake, river, or the ocean can help you reconnect with nature. Just being outdoors is beneficial for your psyche, says Taking Charge, and there’s no denying that fresh air can feel revitalizing.

New Experiences Can Brighten a Dark Spot

Though many of your favorite activities or hangout spots are likely closed, consider the fact that new and innovative solutions are popping up all over the place, notes Mayo Clinic. For example, if you love going to the movies, see whether your city (or the next one over) offers drive-in movies that are safely socially-distanced and low-risk. Or, if sports are your form of stress relief, try a couples’ court game with your quarantine partner, or pair up (from a distance) with a masked-up opponent.

You Get to Eat Great Food

Let’s be honest: Vacationing often means loading up on fast food for at least a couple of meals per day. Eating out on vacation either means expensive plates of tasty food or noshing on drive-thru meals near your hotel. Worse, you might stock a mini-fridge, only to find that it hasn’t kept your snacks cold at all.

During a staycation, you can dedicate time to whipping up something special. If you’re stuck at home with someone special, you can make it a bonding experience and cook together. Just leave the dirty dishes until after you “get back” from your staycation.

Even if you have to stick close to home — and away from other people — this time around, a staycation can still offer a diversion from the monotony of pandemic life. Though it’s not jet-setting to the Caribbean for a holiday, a well-planned staycation can provide stress relief, a bit of entertainment, and even some good memories.

Interested in staycationing in a new home? Visit SanCap Gateway Realty for more information on local listings. Get in touch here or call (239) 472- 5478.

Article Author: Natalie Jones homeownerbliss.info

Image via Unsplash