This is a freelance piece.  When possible, I post my freelance work here on the blog.  This is a monthly article that I write for a newsletter for a client in California.   If you are looking for assistance with a writing project or need a freelance writer, shoot me an email: nancymyersrust [at] gmail [dot] com.

How To Have a Memorable “Stay”-cation

For many of us, Summer is a season that is synonymous with “vacation.”  It’s the time of year when a lot of folks set out in search of new horizons and new adventures.  Winter is long behind us and the fair weather beckons.  But what do you do when traveling, for whatever reason, is not an option?  Does Summer still hold the promise of rejuvenation and relaxation?  You bet!

If travel isn’t in the cards for you this Summer, why not opt for a “stay”-cation rather than a vacation?  Instead of setting off for greener pastures, more and more folks are choosing to stick close to home.  If you aren’t going to be traveling abroad or out-of-state this Summer, it doesn’t mean you should miss out on the benefits of a week (or more!) off from your regular routine.

3 Tips for Making the Most of Your “Stay”-cation

Plan Ahead

Just because you aren’t leaving town doesn’t mean you don’t need to plan as though you were.  When we choose to stay at home for our vacation, it can be hard to break free of our usual routine and get the true rest that we need.  So plan ahead just like you would if you were jet-setting to Paris for the week.  

Where do you want to go?  What do you want to see?  Are there restaurants you’ve been wanting to try?  Old haunts you’d like to revisit?  Do you want to host a dinner party or a BBQ or meet up with friends for drinks?  Hit the Farmer’s Market or head out for some wine tasting?  Pull out a calendar and plan your “stay-cation” just like you would a vacation.  (Or, conversely, if you aren’t a planner, simply clear your schedule and plan to fly by the seat of your pants!)

Skip the Chores

If you are vacationing at home, it can be really difficult to let go of your day-to-day chores. Why not use some of the money you saved on airfare to hire a professional to come in and clean your house?    Pass the laundry and the yard work to someone else and head off to Avila Beach or Hearst Castle for the day instead.

Try Something New

Just because you aren’t visiting someplace new doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try something new.  Pick at least one thing to do on your stay-cation that you wouldn’t ordinarily do.  A day or two at one of our local spas or a night in an upscale hotel.  Sign up for a class to learn a new skill, like pottery or tennis.  Grab a friend and check out that exercise class you’ve been talking about or buy tickets to see that movie or production that piqued your interest.

Other Ways to Make Your Stay-cation Memorable

• Turn the ringer off your phone and don’t check your messages
• Skip the news for the week — the world will keep turning and you can catch up when you “get back” from your vacation
• Stop the mail for the week
• Have dinner delivered
• Hire a cleaning service to clean your house from top to bottom
• Pick up a stack of new books from the library or local bookstore
• Don’t check email
• Get a massage
• Buy yourself a plush bathrobe to wear for the week
• Check out a ball game
• Day trip to wine country
• Head to one of our nearby neighbors (Morro Bay, Cambria, Santa Barbara, Big Sur) for a few nights

Staying home doesn’t have to be boring.  And it doesn’t mean you can’t get that R&R you deserve.  Instead of packing your bags, just pack the sunscreen and head out to explore the wonders of your own backyard.  There’s a reason so many people come here for vacation each year.  Let’s get out there and see what all the fuss is about!