Staycation Rules You MUST Follow
Staycations are great, affordable options for those times when the purse strings are a bit tight. BUT in order for a staycation to find success, one needs to follow some practical rules.
Rule #1. A Staycation must be treated as a REAL vacation.
For any vacation to have real beneficial qualities, one must unplug from the daily grind of one's life. This means mentally check out from the monotony of the everyday existence. Don't use the vacation time as a means to complete chores or do extra work. Take a break. Like that television jingle for Kit Kat, "Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar!"
Nothing will ruin a staycation more quickly than forgetting the spirit of vacation!
Rule #2. Plan Ahead.
I recall when I was younger my dad and I were the vacation planners. But back before the internet was really a thing, we planned using free travel guides from different states to find things to do. This was good for an overview, but not so much for the specifics like prices and hours of operation.
We would often come across attractions WHILE on vacation that were closed. Sometimes the attractions were only open a few days a week, and sometimes we would get to the attraction after the closing time.
Thanks to the internet, planning a vacation has never been so easy, and with infinite information posted online, it is easy to plan ahead to be sure to attend attractions on the right days and at the right times of the day.
Rule #3: Choose a Start and End Date.
Just like you do when planning a traditional vacation, plan for a beginning and ending date of your staycation. By doing so you can give yourself the opportunity to prepare for your vacation. Depending on your personality, you may want to clean the house, prep meals ahead of time and take care of any pesky errand you may need to run, ahead of the allotted time of your vacation.
Rule #4: Create Mental Distance.
Obviously, we want the staycation to feel like a real vacation so we need to create some space between ourselves and our daily lives. One way to accomplish this is to disconnect. Get off social media, don't answer the phone.
Another way to create mental distance is to change up your schedule for a week. Go to bed later, sleep in, don't follow a typical routine. Eat different foods, eat at different times. Go somewhere you have never been.
Rule #5: Treat Yourself.
A lot of people, myself included, choose a Staycation as opposed to a traditional vacation due to budgetary concerns. So this rule may seem counterproductive. BUT a key to making a Staycation feel like a real vacation is finding small ways to enhance the experience.
Plan to enjoy some treats. They don't have to be expensive. Go out for desert, have drinks at a nearby restaurant, go shopping for something small you've been wanting such as clothes, books, movies, or tools. Whatever best suits your interests.
The idea, is to do something that will make the staycation feel special.
Rule #6: Remember It
One year, right after John and I were married we had very little money but we wanted to have a vacation, because it was an important tradition in our family.
So, we looked for free entertainment of all kinds. We even signed up for one of those timeshare presentations, where they will pay you to listen to their promotions.
We documented everything in a photo book. We still enjoy looking at the book and remembering all the crazy ways we tried to save a few bucks.
Be sure you do something that will help you remember your staycation, be it a photo book, home videos, or perhaps a souvenir to remind you of your trip.
A traditional vacation may not always be possible, but finding time to get away from your everyday life and relax is always possible. I believe if you follow the rules above, you will find your staycation joyful, restful, and refreshing. Enjoy!
