Find total relaxation
How many times have you heard someone lament, “I need a vacation from my vacation”? The upside of staying put is that you’ll cut down on travel-related stress (packing, delayed flights, road closures), and you’ll feel less pressure to create a jam-packed itinerary to check off every iconic landmark in a new place. Instead, use your time at home to take advantage of a mid-week rate at a nearby spa or take a new (and less crowded) class at the gym.
So, how much time do you need to unwind? Research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that health and wellness levels increase quickly during vacation, peaking on the eighth vacation day. If you don’t have a solid eight days to devote to your staycation, Lindsey Pearson, mindfulness coach and founder of Do You Mind{fully}?, has tips for finding Zen in less time. “I recommend meditation,” Pearson says. “It doesn’t have to be for hours, but short moments, many times.” Start by meditating in three- or five-minute increments for a mini-reset.
You can also make each moment more naturally meditative; Pearson is adamant about staying present and unplugging on a staycation. “Enjoy your coffee, don’t chug it,” she says. “Eat a meal without a phone, television or newspaper. Notice when your mind moves to wanting to do a household chore and see if you can guide it back to the same place as your feet — literally. So if you’re making coffee and you start thinking about the gutters, reconnect to the experience of making coffee — notice the smell, the sound of the grind, the drip and the color.” One of the greatest luxuries of a staycation is time, so soak it up.