Staycation Tips During COVID-19

With the COVID-19 pandemic currently making travel next to impossible more and more Canadians have decided to plan “staycations” this year. Today we will go over a few tips to help you make the most of your staycation this year! But first, what exactly is a staycation anyway?

What Is A Staycation?

A staycation is simply a vacation that you take at home. As with any vacation, the goal of a staycation is simply to rest, relax and enjoy some time away from the daily grind of work.

Staycation Tips

#1 – Set A Budget

As with any other vacation you’re going to want to start by deciding on a budget for your staycation. Any vacation with a $0 budget will likely not be much fun. It’s hard to feel like you’re on vacation when you’re just sitting around the house watching tv and eating leftovers.

This doesn’t mean that your staycation has to cost you an arm and a leg either though. Instead, settle on a budget that you can easily afford but will also allow you to splurge on some more luxurious items and experiences to really make your time off memorable.

#2 – Decide What You Want To Do

Once you’ve got your budget in mind, it’s time to decide how to spend it! Since you are staying home, many people tend not to make any concrete plans for their staycation. This can be a huge mistake as more often than not it leads to you doing little to nothing at all during your time off.

Even if your ideal staycation is doing little to nothing, you should still plan on doing some special things to make your time off memorable. Planning out a few fun or relaxing activities can be the difference between being home for a week and having a great staycation experience. These activities can include:

• A movie night.
• A games night.
• Ordering takeout from your favourite restaurant.
• A spa day.
• Arts and crafts projects.
• Reading an entire book.

Having a few special activities planned for certain days really gives your time off that vacation feel while also giving you some things to look forward to leading up to your staycation!

#3 – Transform Your Backyard Into A Vacation Destination

Your staycation budget doesn’t have to just go towards one time experiences though. You can also put some of that budget into transforming your backyard into a vacation destination that you can visit over and over again!

Some of the best ways to transform your backyard into a vacation destination include:

• Patio furniture. Get some comfortable, stylish patio furniture that you’ll want to sit in over and over again.
• A hot tub. Hot tubs are tailor made for vacations! Soothe aching muscles with their hydrotherapy seats or simply rest and relax after a long day.
• A swim spa. Swim spas provide all the benefits of traditional pools at a fraction of the cost and maintenance!

Not only do purchases like these improve your staycation experience, they allow you to extend your staycation to evenings and weekends after you go back to work.

#4 – Get Everything Prepared Before Your Staycation Starts

Once you know what you’re going to do on your staycation, it’s time to start prepping! Before your staycation starts make sure that you get all of your chores for the week complete. You wouldn’t mow your lawn or do laundry on a normal vacation, so don’t do them on your staycation! Instead, focus on relaxing and enjoying your time off.

If you’re planning any large purchases like a hot tub, try to make sure that it is delivered and ready to go before your staycation starts so you can focus on enjoying it and not prepping for its delivery while you’re off.

Protect Your Time

For some people, one of the hardest parts of any staycation can be actually taking the time off. Since you’re home, it is really easy to jump back into your normal routine of chores and work. Fight back against these tendencies and dedicate your time instead to relaxation and fun!

There can be an impulse to do those small jobs that you’ve been putting off. Don’t use your time off to complete those jobs, unless you enjoy them and would feel a deep satisfaction from completing them.

You should also avoid work calls and emails whenever possible while you’re off. If people know that you’re at home they’re more likely to contact you about work. Unless it is an absolute emergency ignore your work. Take the time to relax. Record a voice message and compose an out of office e-mail stating that you’re away from work and who they should contact while you’re off.

Wrapping Up

Just because you’re vacationing at home doesn’t mean you can’t have an unforgettable time! If you treat your staycation like any other vacation there’s no reason why you can’t make it a great experience for you whole family. It can also be a great excuse to invest in your backyard to extend your staycation into the evenings and weekends once you go back to work!