It’s possible to have a vacation without the stress of crowds, airports, traffic, and packing suitcases — by taking a staycation instead. That way you can use your time off to truly relax. In this article, we cover some ideas on how your staycation, aka your vacation at home, could look like.
The idea of a staycation is to spend your time off locally instead of traveling long distances. This will let you enjoy everything you love about taking a vacation without the stress and environmental impact that travel can cause. Long-distance travel is usually associated with high CO2 emissions — in this respect, a staycation gives you and the environment a well-deserved break.
And the best part is that your staycation starts the moment you finish work. You don’t need to waste time making elaborate plans and seeking out the best flight and hotel deals. Read on to get inspired by our staycation ideas.
1. Staycation Ideas for Wellness Lovers
Allow yourself and your body some time out. Try out a homemade face mask, natural hair treatment, and nourishing natural body lotion (make it homemade!) to make your skin and hair shine. Or take a good long soak in the tub with a bit of DIY bath salt to make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
Here are some of our favorite face masks you can easly make at home:
A massage is also a great way to relax — a back, hand, or foot massage will do your body and soul some serious good. Try using massage oils with different scents to add a bit of aromatherapy to your at-home spa treatment. Be sure to use certified natural cosmetics for the sake of the environment and your health.
2. Staycation for Foodies
What is better than good food? Use your staycation for cooking elaborate dinners or trying out time-consuming recipes you’ve had your eye on for some time. With regional and seasonal ingredients there are always lots of delicious options. Here are some of our favorite recipes:
For a breakfast in bed:
Or check top list of 15 Sweet and Savory Vegan Brunch Ideas
Lunch/Dinner:
Something sweet:
- Healthy Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
- Vegan Chocolate Cake
- Vegan Apple Pudding
- Vegan Pumpkin Cake with Frosting
And of course, a delicious homemade hot chocolate.
If you don’t feel like cooking, get to know local restaurants in your area. HappyCow shows which restaurants in your area offer vegan or vegetarian options. If you eat at a restaurant, consider bringing your own container so that you can take any leftovers with you without having to use single-use packaging.
Remember that typical delivery services usually involve a lot of disposable packaging material. When you order food, indicate when ordering that you would like the food to be delivered without menus, disposable cutlery, or napkins. If ordering online, use the comments section at the bottom of the order form.
3. Staycation for Absolue Relaxation
Travel is often associated with the pressure to make the absolute most of every minute. You end up experiencing many things on your vacation, but relaxation isn’t usually one of them. In contrast, a staycation is ideal for reducing stress and decelerating. You get to spend time in a familiar environment and simply have some time off.
It might sound crazy, but just relaxing at home can be a truly worthwhile way to spend your staycation. Remember, even if you’re staying at home, it’s your vacation! Would you normally use your vacation time to do household chores or other errands? No! So take the time off completely. Sleep in, read books, meditate, go for a walk or just do nothing at all if you feel like it. A digital detox gives you even more time for yourself.
You can also stay in bed for a whole day if you want! Spend your vacation exactly how you want to — as long as you enjoy it, it’s not a waste of time.
Read on: JOMO – The Joy of Missing Out
4. Outdoorsy Staycation Ideas
Even if you like getting outdoors and prefer more active vacations, there’s a staycation for you. Most of us have never taken the time to fully explore our backyard. Look up popular excursions, hiking routes, and places of interest in your local area that you’ve never visited before. Now you finally have time for those activities you tell guests to do when they come to visit your city.
Even if your region doesn’t have incredible sites to see, there is still a lot to experience. Here’s another staycation idea: Alastair Humphreys (Adventurer of the Year 2012), has developed the concept of a micro-adventure. In short, a micro-adventure is about experiencing nature without having to travel. According to Humphreys, a micro-adventure involves an overnight stay in the great outdoors. Check out his website for inspiration and tips.
If you need a tent, canoe, or any other equipment for your trip, consider asking friends, using social media groups, or checking your local outdoor equipment store to see if they have rental programs.
5. Staycation Ideas to Get Creative
Staycations offer time for creativity. The sewing project that you have been putting off, the piece of furniture that you’ve been meaning to build; now you finally have the time for it! Want to learn something completely new? Free online courses or youtube videos teach many different skills.
Whatever you choose to do, the most important thing is that you enjoy doing it. If you hate doing home renovation projects, don’t waste your vacation time doing them. But if you love DIY projects, use your vacation to paint, wallpaper, or do small repairs to give your home a breath of fresh air.
For some DIY inspiration, check out these guides:
- Homemade Deodorant
- DIY Facial Toners
- Making Scented Candles at Home
- How to Make Lipstick
- Propagating Succulents
- Bug Hotels: How to Build Your Own Insect House
7. Staycation at Home but with a Change of Scenery
Want an escape from your own home? Feel like a change of scenery? Swap apartments with friends for a few days. Decide which rooms or closets are private and which things are allowed to be used. This will allow you to spend your vacation in the same city or area but gain a different perspective. If you’ve been working from home, this will allow you to truly switch off and get away from work. Maybe you can try another type of dwelling, like a tiny house!
Another staycation idea is to book a vacation apartment or hotel room in your region. You don’t need to travel far to experience something completely different!
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