Getting Real with Shadra Bruce
This time of year, we’re grounded. Not only are the roads often treacherous enough that we just don’t chance traveling, but this year in particular, we have to send off our passports to be renewed. This means we cannot even make a quick trip across the border to Niagara Falls for the next 8-10 weeks. Our travel season [sob] is over.
Rather than become incredibly sad at being stuck at home without being able to feed my travel bug, this is a great time for a “staycation” – like a vacation, only a lot cheaper and closer to home.
What can you do on a staycation?
It’s more important to note what you cannot do: work.
For me, this means scheduling ahead all of my clients’ social media posts, putting away my laptop to avoid temptation, and forcing myself not to check email for the duration.
It’s harder than it seems…but I’ve worked very hard to enjoy a staycation the week between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s a great time to do it, because most of our clients will be off anyway, so the need for me to be immediately available is fairly low. Even so, it’s very difficult for me to do.
But there are so many fun ways to spend the time – and yes, we could make another list all about what your kids could do – but this is about YOU. What do you want out of a staycation?
10 Things to Do on a Staycation
- Sleep in – When you get up at 5am every morning, this is truly the luxury of a staycation.
- Don’t do ANYTHING – I mean, don’t even make the bed!
- Read a book – I’d love to know what you’re reading! Let me know in the comments.
- Explore your local town or city – It’s amazing what you can discover about the place you live when you look at it through the eyes of a tourist!
- Go to a museum – Just down the street we have both the Corning Glass Museum and the Rockwell Museum both of which are worth multiple visits.
- Get together with friends – We have friends who live here in town but who also travel. We got together for dinner last week for the first time in almost a year.
- Shop after-holiday sales – While I’m not much of a shopper anymore, I do like to replenish my Christmas decorations and there is no better time to get them than right after the holiday.
- Catch up on favorite TV shows – Gray’s Anatomy binge watching sounds amazing.
- Play board games with family – Much to my kids’ chagrin, I don’t often play board games, but during vacation, this can be a really fun way to spend time together.
- Go to Movies – There are some great movies hitting the theater, from The Last Jedi (amazing) to the new Jumanji movie to The Greatest Showman on Earth. Pick on. Go. And indulge in some popcorn or a favorite treat.
There are plenty of other things you can do on a staycation. For some people, it’s a great time to be crafty and creative. While I might get the chance to sneak in some painting time, I’m not very crafty, so it doesn’t make my list. But when vacations can run a few thousand dollars, having some required time off is a nice change of pace and pressure on the pocketbook. A staycation can be a lot cheaper and still offer tons of fun.
