Find Your Sanctuary
When you’re planning your Staycation, you first need to decide the location of your sanctuary. Some feel their safest in the comfort of their home, and others might need just a stone throw’s away locale to find peace of mind. If you want to step out of your home, check out Airbnb for a local getaway. You can spend a night in a new neighborhood that has always interested you, such as a remote cottage in the woods or a picturesque loft in a bustling urban setting.
If you decide to stay at home, be sure to remove all distractions from your immediate environment that will interfere with your cleanse. Screens should be switched off, including your work email, your phone, and indulgences such as the TV; these devices are known to be addictive for the brain, so turn them off to give your mind the break it deserves!
Finally, prep your space a little bit ahead of time. Take a sick day from work, or pick a Sunday that’s unspoken for and designate this time to you on your calendar. Next, spruce up your sanctuary. A cluttered home signals stress hormones in your mind, while a clean space provides a more restorative atmosphere. If need be, politely ask your roommate or partner to give you the house for the day. They’ll understand; everyone needs a little me time once in awhile!
Be Good to Your Body
The mind and body are inherently linked, so for pure mental clarity, be conscious about how you treat your body. Promise yourself a day full of clean eating; this means plenty of fruits, veggies, nuts, and whole grains that will be light in your tummy but will provide pure energy for your body to consume. Alcohol and other toxins should be avoided as well as they can interfere with your mental bliss.
Get some outdoor exercise. Plan for a midday excursion such as a pleasant bike ride, a long walk, a beautiful hike, or a revitalizing yoga session. If you’ve been penting up a lot of stress, this will be just the thing your body needs to relax and recharge.
Lastly, make time for some meditation throughout your day. Wake up and take five to ten minutes to just breathe and stretch, visualizing the feeling you want to achieve during this staycation. At the end of your day, take another five to ten minute breather to thank yourself for taking some me time and to remind yourself why it is important to do so.
Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3
Pamper Yourself
This next element of your staycation might be your favorite part yet! Try an at-home spa day with a full-blown bubble bath and a body scrub. Be sure to create an ambiance of indulgence with lavender scented (or your favorite scent) candles and precious fairy lights in your bedroom.
For your post spa treatment, be sure to re-quench your entire body with moisturizer. Apres bains is also the best time to groom your eyebrows and nails as they will be softened by the water, so bring out the tweezers and the nail trimmers to gently remove any overgrown bits. Slip into a comfy pajama or lingerie set that leaves you feeling cute and sexy. Satins and silks feel sultry on your skin, and nothing jogs the “love myself” feeling better than walking around half-dressed in the privacy of your own space.
Try Something New
You’ve made the time for yourself, now take full advantage of it! Break your regular routine with something you’ve always fantasized about doing but have never taken the time to do. Try getting your hands on something, like painting a landscape, learning to knit, or working in the garden. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect, the act alone of trying something new and engaging is stimulating to your imagination and sense of fulfillment.
It can also be nice to just indulge in an old pastime such as reading your favorite book, baking your mom’s cookie recipe, or coloring in an adult coloring book just for the sake of nostalgia. By planning time-off, you’re creating motivation to fulfill this promise to yourself. This is a time for gratitude, so make sure you’re eliminating any senses of guilt on your staycation!