Madeeha Syed

Maybe your next vacation doesn’t need to cost you all your savings and peace.

Going Nowhere: How To Have A Staycation

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A vacation is immensely important for your mental health and relationships. Do you know you can enjoy a staycation at home within a budget? Read more at Meri Sehat.

Overview

We all yearn for days of leisure and freedom. Doing the same thing day in and day out, going to the same places via the same commute, meeting the same people and, let&rsquo;s not forget the incessant barrage of work emails &mdash; it gets pretty boring after a while. You would never meet anyone who doesn&rsquo;t long to break away from this monotonous existence.&nbsp;

So, what do we do to bring some spice back into our lives? Most people choose to go on a vacation. But then you have to decide on a place, book tickets, go through the grueling process of packing, plan an itinerary, wait in long lines at the airport and then actually go to an unfamiliar territory? Yes, of course. But not always! The global financial crisis we have been facing for the past two decades and the economic fallout from <a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/covid-19">Covid-19</a> have left us with no option but to be creative when it comes to how we approach vacations.&nbsp;

Welcome to having a &lsquo;staycation&rsquo;. We explain what it is, below: 
&nbsp;

What is a Staycation?

&nbsp;Even though staycations can refer to domestic tourism — going on a holiday in your own country but the most popular definition entails staying at home and participating in recreational activities. It’s a nice little getaway within the safety and comfort of your own home and is easier on the pocket too.&nbsp;Terms such as Daycation, Holistay and Nearcation are used interchangeably but there are certain nuances to each of these. For example, Nearcation is when you have a little holiday in your own city but not in your own home. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing: a vacation doesn’t have to mean or include travel. Let’s not forget the money you can save and carbon emissions we can reduce by eliminating air travel.&nbsp;

How can you have a Staycation?

First, it’s important that you decide what you want to get out of it. Some people’s workplace provide the facility to WFH so even when on vacation, you will see them walking around with a laptop attending meetings. So, are you the kind of person who would want to continue to catch up on work from the luxury of your own bed or do you want to go completely off the grid? It’s up to you. For a pure staycation experience, you will have to let your workplace know you will be out of office for a certain period of time. Yes, you will be tempted to check your emails and that’s why you should pack your laptop away and put all emails and workplace group chats on DND — Do Not Disturb. Another mistake you might make is running errands while on your staycation. Yes, you are at home and yes you have lots of free time but that doesn’t mean you should spend that fixing the driveway or the sink. A staycation means giving yourself a break from your day-to-day worries and just letting it all go.&nbsp;Next thing you need to consider is how much you’re willing to splurge on your staycation. Some people prefer going to a local bed-and-breakfast and just spending time ordering in. Others like to go to a local hotel for a change of environment and using their pool or spa facilities. Then there are those who want all the benefits of a vacation without spending a single penny and stay home. At the end of the day it all depends on your budget.&nbsp; Some fun activities you can do your staycation are:&nbsp; <ul><li>Start a nice long book or better yet a book series.&nbsp;</li><li>Arrange small picnics with your family members or close friends at the local park. Or you can have indoor picnics.&nbsp;</li><li>Taking a local food tour can be another fun activity to add to the list.&nbsp;</li><li>Speaking of food, why not spend a whole week trying out new recipes? Cook yourself some nice elaborate meals that you usually don’t have to time to prepare. Visit the farmer’s market to buy fresh produce and treat yourself to a lavish spread.&nbsp;</li><li>Get as comfortable as possible. Light some calming scented candles like lavender or jasmine or just burn some sage. Follow this by getting into your PJs and soft slippers and turn the mood lighting on.&nbsp;</li><li>Splurge on self-care, get manicures, body scrubs or a full spa day to soothe those tense muscles and nerves. You can also get full body massages and foot reflexology done for the ultimate relaxation.&nbsp;</li><li>Go for a swim. This would be easier if you're staying at a local hotel with a pool facility. However, many places allow daytime access to their pools as well.&nbsp;</li><li>Camp in your backyard or build a fort inside your living room. You can spend time out there stargazing or doing movie marathons inside the fort.&nbsp;</li><li>Get yourself a 100-piece puzzle and spend your days putting it together. Building a Lego set can also help you have your inner child come alive.&nbsp;</li><li>Take painting or pottery classes either at a local facility or online.&nbsp;</li><li>Plan a game night with your friends or family. These can include board games like Taboo, Pictionary or Scrabble etc. or just some good old hide and seek and scavenger hunts.&nbsp; </li></ul>Or better yet, forget all of the above, have no solid plan for your day and sleep in. Once you wake up you can see what you’re in the mood for and just spend your staycation doing that.&nbsp;