Unwind and Relax with a Wallet-Friendly Staycation

No money? No problem! Listen to this episode to learn ways to relax and unwind by having a fun and easy staycation! 

Show Notes: 

Episode Summary:

Are you in need of a vacation and don’t have the time or can’t afford to take a trip? Everyone needs to get away, have a change of scenery and experience new things. Vacation-like experiences are closer than you think, and they don’t have to cost a lot. In today’s episode where going to give you ideas for having a great vacation close to home.

In this episode:

Are you feeling stuck at home, and wishing you could go on a vacation?  Or maybe your vacation is over, or not coming up for awhile. Today we’re going to take about fun ways to take a vacation without leaving home.

When you read about or hear about staycations, they often involve doing house projects. Yes, you can clean out and organize your closets during a staycation. Some of us do those kinds of projects as a default- I can’t afford to go anywhere, so I’ll get my home projects done. But that doesn’t sound like a vacation to us. We all want, and deserve something that recharges us. We want to have the experience of getting away from it all, relaxing, and coming back feeling rejuvenated.

How do you get that “I’ve had a vacation” feeling?  You intentionally create it.  We’ve got some ideas.

Consider what you would do if you were on a vacation.

• Maybe you like to relax at the beach.
• Many people love going to museums and seeing new things.
• Some people love shopping in new places and finding unique things.
• Many vacations involve seeing the tourist sights of a local area.
• Adventure might be in the mix in your vacation- engaging in some kind of sport or activity.
• Eating our in new restaurants is something we often look forward to on vacation.
• On vacation we often switch up our routines in terms of sleep- sleeping in, or staying up later than we usually do.

What would you like to do on your vacation?  Make a list. Then, see how you could do things in your own area.

 Take our list from above. How could you do these things on a staycation?  

• Maybe you like to relax at the beach- is there a local beach you can visit? A local park? A local swimming pool?
• Many people love going to museums and seeing new things. Have you visited your local museums or historical sights recently?
• Some people love shopping in new places and finding unique things. Have new stores popped up in your area that you have not yet visited? This is the perfect opportunity to support a local business and expand your shopping horizons.
• Many vacations involve seeing the tourist sights of a local area. Many of the wonders of nature are free or inexpensive. There are often outdoor options like caves and state parks or indoor options like historic homes and symphony performances.
• Adventure might be in the mix in your vacation. Engage in some kind of sport or activity. Have you tried geocaching? You would be amazed at the adventure involved in finding the hidden treasure!
• Eating out in new restaurants is something we often look forward to on vacation.  Give yourself permission to go to that upscale restaurant or the burger shop you have wanted to try or haven’t visited in a while.
• On vacation we often switch up our routines in terms of sleep such as sleeping in, or staying up later than we usually do. Here is your chance!

Vacations also often involve people we don’t see often.

• Friends and family from out of town
• People we like to spend time with but are often too busy to see
• People from out past that we miss- your best friend from high school
• Often people from lots of different ages come together and share stories and memories.

How could you arrange time to see these people during a staycation? 

• Have a backyard cookout and invite people.
• Plan a day to go see a friend who you don’t see often who lives near you- or involve them to spend a day with you.
• Meet friends or family halfway between where you live for a day at a park, a lake or a zoo.

Find fun and creative things to do in your community that you don’t usually do.

• We all probably live near a tourist attraction that we have never been to. If not now, when?
• If you are interested in history, explore the history of your town. Even small towns often have a historical museum or historical site you may have never been too. The library likely has historical  information of the area. It is also fun to look at historical pictures of places you see around you everyday.
• Consider the towns near you- are there new parks to explore? Hiking is great exercise and you will feel like you are somewhere new. If you like to hike, find a trail. Even it if you have hiked it before the vegetation is always changing and it can feel like a new trail. State and country parks are fantastic and offer new experiences, boat rentals, food stands, and outdoor playgrounds for kids. You can pack a picnic lunch or  pick up a pizza on the way.
• Look at local events calendars on-line and see what is happening near you. Every place has local festivals, summer concert series, restaurants and bars, and other places you probably haven’t been to.
• If you love to cook, go to the library and check out some cookbooks from around the world. Pick a few recipes and make them. You will shake up your eating experience.
• If you love to read, grab some books and drinks, snacks and a lawn chair and head to someplace different to read.
• If you have access to bicycles, bike around a new neighborhood. Bike trails are available in many places.  If you don’t have a bike they are easy to rent or can be inexpensive to buy if you find them used.

Quote: 

“How do you get that “I’ve had a vacation” feeling?  You intentionally create it.”

Inspired Together Teachers 

 Recap:

If you can’t go away on a vacation it doesn’t mean that you can’t rest, relax and be rejuvenated. Give yourself permission to get out of your daily routines. You can slow down, let go of work and enjoy many wonderful experiences without going far from home or spending a lot of money.

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