Feeling the need for a break but can’t travel far? A staycation might be just what you need. Changing your scenery can be beneficial to Mental and physical health. Staycations can help you rejuvenate your body, and relieve stress by changing your environment. Staycations can also improve family relationships by increasing communication, emotional expressiveness, and reconnection Here are ten creative ideas to help you relax and recharge without leaving your neighborhood.
Transform Your Backyard Into A Campsite
Transform your backyard into a campsite. Pick a spot in your backyard that’s flat and grassy, somewhere that you can easily set up the tent. You’ll need to make sure it’s a big enough space for your tent and any other equipment you’ll need to make this staycation idea pop.
Set up a tent, string up some fairy lights for a little bit of extra romantic atmosphere, and enjoy a night under the stars. Don’t forget the marshmallows for s’mores. If you happen to have a projector, break it out and project your favorite flicks onto a wall, the side of the house, or any other flat surface you want to transform into the big screen for the night.
Book Local Hotel Accommodations
Just because you’re having a staycation, doesn’t mean you have to stay entirely at home. Booking a night at a local hotel or bed-and-breakfast is a staycation idea that will give you hotel vibes and an ‘on vacation’ mindset, without all the rigmarole of traveling a long distance for it. Enjoy the luxury of room service, a pool, and a fresh perspective on your hometown.
If you live in a large city with smaller suburbs, try visiting a hotel in a neighborhood you’ve never explored before. Go on a walk and see a part of your own city that you’ve never seen, and be able to get back into your own bed by the next night.
Become a Tourist & Support Local Businesses
In a similar vein to the last staycation idea, you should never pass up an opportunity to be a tourist in your own city. Staycations can help support the local economy by visiting museums, landmarks, and attractions you’ve never been to.
You’ll help boost the local economy and the livelihoods of small business owners by purchasing souvenirs and lunch or dinner at a local restaurant. While you explore, you might discover hidden gems right in your town, and find a few places you’d like to revisit in the future.
Create a Home Spa Day
Combine a staycation with a self-care day by turning your own home into a five-star spa experience (without a five-star spa price.) Pamper yourself with a spa day at home. Run a bubble bath, light some candles, and indulge in a DIY facial or manicure. Feel free to go all out — take that ‘everything shower’, make yourself an indulgent cocktail (or mocktail), play your favorite music, and even find other ways to take care of yourself and release stress. It’s a perfect way to unwind.
Spend a Day at The Park
Did you know that being exposed to the natural world is good for you in more ways than one? Improved attention, reduced levels of stress, and an overall better mood are all results noted by the American Psychological Association as a benefit of touching grass – literally.
Pack a picnic basket with your favorite snacks and head to a local park. Enjoy a leisurely day outdoors, reading a book or playing games. While you can grab a few selfies and text updates to those in your circle, take this time to disconnect from your devices and simply live in the moment of being outdoors. This is a staycation idea you can bring a group of friends or family along for, or make it a solo date.
Cook Homemade Meals
Try a new recipe or take an online cooking class. For my content creators, you can use this opportunity to create social media content while you are cooking and experimenting with different homemade meals. Cooking at home isn’t just a fun way to connect with your loved ones and save money that you might have spent on takeout – it’s also generally healthier for you. 28 different studies were conducted, and they concluded that people who cooked at home more often saw positive changes in their dietary intake of fiber, sodium, and fat.
Plan to Have a Movie Marathon
Create a cozy movie theater experience at home. Pick a theme, gather your favorite films, and enjoy a movie marathon with popcorn and snacks. For example — when I was a kid, my older sisters would watch Hallmark, Lifetime, and Twilight Zone movies all day. Setting up regular movie nights is an excellent staycation idea that will help build connections and create lasting memories.
Create an Art and Craft Day
Get creative with an art and craft day. Even if you’re not a regular arts and crafts person, trying out a new creative hobby may unlock a part of you that you’d previously left untapped. Whether it’s painting, knitting, or scrapbooking, spending time on a creative project can be incredibly relaxing.
You can also take to sites like Pinterest and YouTube for ideas of homemade gifts you can hand-craft to give to your loved ones. It’s like you brought them a souvenir from your staycation, and it’s a great idea to save some money around birthdays and holidays.
Experience Nature Walks
Explore local trails and parks. A nature walk can be a refreshing way to get some exercise and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. Breathe in the fresh air, explore the flora and fauna that grows in your neck of the woods, and disconnect from the business of your everyday life. This can be surprisingly stress relieving, too, even if you aren’t usually a big hiking fan.
Have Family Game Night
Host a game night with family or friends. Board games, card games, or even video games can provide hours of fun and laughter.
For a traditional feel, break out board games like Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, or lay out a space for Dominoes. Card games are a time-honored tradition – from games you play with a standard 52 card deck like poker, Texas hold ’em, Rummy (or it’s more complicated cousin Gin Rummy), or Cadillac, to those that are less standard, like Crazy Eights. If you don’t mind the drama that accompanies passing your table-mate a Draw 4 card, Uno is a classic.
Feeling more digitally inclined? Get everyone together for one of Jackbox’s collaborative party games, or sabotage one another in Mario Party.
You can make a real event out of it by sharing food and putting on music while you play. If you want to make it a little extra special, set prizes aside for the winners.
A staycation can be just as refreshing and relaxing as a traditional vacation. With a little creativity, you can create memorable experiences without ever leaving your neighborhood. Enjoy your time off and make the most of your staycation.