SUNDAY NOIRES: 8 Tips To Help You Ace Your Staycation

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There’s no time like the preset to get in a little rest and relaxation. Even if you don’t have enough personal time saved up to truly get away, you only need one or two to take a quality staycation. And taking time off of work and your usual responsibilities can offer many benefits.

The American Psychological Association’s newsletter reports that people who take regular vacations live longer, happier lives, experience less depression and are more productive. In one of their reviewed studies, it was found that just a three-day break lowers perceived work stress. So taking even a mini staycation can go a long way. Here are staycation tips to ace your time off and return to work feeling refreshed.

1) Choose The Type Of Staycation You Want

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The first choice you’ll make is whether you want to staycation in your home or at another accommodation. Your budget will largely dictate this. The most affordable option is an at-home staycation, but if you want to get out of the house on a budget, you can also look into glamping your area or book an affordable AirBnb. If your budget is a bit more expansive, maybe it’s time to book a stay at that luxury hotel in town. Get that penthouse or suite with the view.

You’ll also want to consider the nature of your staycation. Is this an active one, during which you’ll finally visit some of the gorgeous hiking trails and swimming holes in your area? Is it about total relaxation and not lifting a finger? Maybe you want to play tourist in your own town and book a sightseeing excursion. Or, maybe this is a food and wine vacation, and you want to book some five-course meals and tastings at the best restaurants in town.

2) Create An Away Message

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Make it clear to everyone that you are unavailable during this time. Create an away message on your answering machine. Set up an automatic out-of-office reply for emails. Make a post on social media stating that you’ll be going ghost for the next few days. If you’re taking your staycation at home, put a no-solicitation sign up, post a note asking that FedEx drivers leave packages at the back and ask that nobody ring your doorbell. Send a message to the world that you are unreachable until the staycation is over.

3) Act As If You’re Going Away

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Protect this time. Block it out in a big bright color in your calendar. Act as if you are out of town. Do not say yes to any appointments or social requests. You can’t take over for another mom on the carpool and you’re not walking your neighbor’s dog. You are not available for the AC technician to do the annual tune-up. You wouldn’t do those things if you were on vacation out of town, so don’t do them during your staycation.

4) Get Prepared Meals

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If you’ll be having your staycation at home, arrange for all of your meals in advance. Live like you’re at a hotel and don’t cook a single thing. You can use a meal plan service to order all of your meals, ready to go with just a little heating. Or, you can go all out and hire a private chef. If you want to keep things simple, pick out some spots you’ve wanted to try and make reservations or order delivery.

5) Turn Your Bathroom Into A Spa

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This is another tip for those staycationing at home. You might not have access to a hotel spa, but you can turn your own bathroom into a spa. MADAMENOIRE covers how here. With the right materials and a few tricks, you can turn your regular old bathroom into a relaxing oasis that looks, feels and even smells like a luxury spa.

7) Hire Professionals

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If you’re staying in your own home, you can still hire some help to make it feel like a hotel. If you have kids, get a babysitter to stay the night and instruct them to only bother you if there’s an emergency. Consider hiring a massage therapist to give you a massage at home. If you wanted to exercise or unwind during your staycation, you could hire a yoga instructor to come to your home. Finally, schedule a housekeeper to come by at the end of your staycation. You don’t clean up after yourself when you leave a hotel and you shouldn’t have to after your staycation.

8) Pack Your Vacation Wardrobe

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Dressing for the occasion can get you in the right mindset. So pack your vacation clothes, even if you’re staying at a hotel in town. That means your resort wear, those flowy pool pants or a flirty sarong. Pack those big, floppy hats you only wear on vacation and the sparkly dresses that you only bust out when you’re out of town. Dress for the part, as if you were a million miles away.

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