Try a Weekend Staycation at Home

I finally get to the day called Friday, and in a perfect world, I’m jetting off on a plane to lie on a white beach in Bermuda with a giant Pepsi Max in hand (other imagined drinks available). Back in the real world, I’m at home on a budget, but I still need some well-deserved R&R- so here enters the weekend staycation at home. What is a weekend? Traditionally, it’s one Friday evening and two full days. Enough time to turn your home into a luxury mini break and return to work on Monday refreshed and rested. You’ll be surprised how you can turn your home into a haven of rest and relaxation with a little preparation. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Preparation- Prepare for your staycation at home

 

Do take some time to prepare for your weekend. Plan out what you’re going to do on Friday evening and your activities for Saturday and Sunday. Buy in what you need for your staycation—your favourite snacks, food, and home spa smellies. Speak to family and friends and tell them what you are doing if necessary. Arrange the babysitter. Do the normal prep like you would for an away mini-break. It will make a world of difference to your weekend.

Define your own weekend

In the digital, post-COVID world, everyone’s weekend is different. Maybe your best days are midweek; that’s fine. Choose days that will work best for you and allow the best time for rest.

Can only do part of the weekend? Can only do one day? It’s all fine! Work out what you can do, even if it’s one day or one morning. It all counts. Remember, it’s you who defines the time. If your kids are at school, choose one or two days to have ‘you’ time during school hours. Do what works best for you.

Staycation at-home activities

Sleep Girl! Go back to bed!

I love to sleep! Can anyone relate? More and more, my days and nights are full of ‘stuff’ to do. Between being a mum and wife and running a business, not to mention being an active member of my church….finding more time is a constant challenge, which means I need time to rest. I increasingly think about how to take some ‘stuff’ off my plate. And how I can rest and sleep more. As the saying goes, ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup,’ and I love sleep!  At the moment, my perfect staycation involves no cooking, no washing, no emails, no phone calls, no shopping. Heaven!

Home spa

Re-create a spa experience in your home. Buy a face mask for your bath or shower, treat yourself to a few lovely smellies-shower mousse, facial scrub, and find your bathroom luxury. Play music while you bathe or shower, taking as long as you want. Put a beautiful candle and some flowers in your bedroom, bathroom or living room.

Loungewear

Spend the day in your favourite dressing gown, PJs and slippers. And ……relax you are now in true staycation mode!

Reading

Choose a new or favourite book to lose yourself in. Give yourself the time to take yourself off to another world.

Get Creative

Pick up that musical instrument you bought three years ago and have never touched, and get playing. Listen to your favourite music. Buy a canvas and some paints and paint a picture, or paint a wall in your home a different colour. Get creative.

Social Media Detox

Come off social media for a couple of days. If you are constantly on social media and it makes you nervous to even think about doing this, then create a post that you are having a social detox so people know you are not ignoring them. Tell your key friends what you are doing.

No phone weekend

Come off your phone and emails. When was the last time you had time away from your phone? Can you remember the day? Exactly! If you can’t do this for the whole weekend set part of each day to take the break.

Ditch the car for a local walk

Take a long local walk down a road you have never been down before. Cycling is also allowed! Hunt out a small piece of nature, a park, a leafy lane, or a country walk. Sit on a bench and watch the world go by.

Daydream and Doze

Daydream and doze on your bed or sofa. Allow your mind to wander and dream. Allow yourself to get bored while you lie there, it will do your soul the world of good. Who knows what ideas you will come up with in your daydream time.

Journal

Try starting a journal and write about whatever you want. Draw pictures, write words, write out your thoughts. You can read about the benefits of journalling here.

Declutter a cupboard or small space

Bear with me, I know it’s not everyone’s go-to activity for a weekend home staycation. Still, there is something oddly satisfying about getting a space decluttered—even a small drawer. Think small space, nothing that takes all day.

Food

Buy your favourite snacks, put them out in a nice platter or bowls, and plan some nice meals. Don’t feel like cooking? That’s okay, too. Order some good takeout food instead. Venture out from your usual takeout and try a new cuisine from a different country.

Watch a movie

Stream a new movie or watch an oldie.

Creative writing

Write a short story, poem or song.

Garden space

Weather, garden and balcony permitting- create a relaxing corner in your garden to relax, read and sleep. If you don’t have a garden or balcony create a garden corner in a room. Buy some nice plants, place a comfy chair and a side table, a few fairy lights and create your own corner garden.

Make your favourite hot or cold drink

Hot chocolate, chai latte, fruit smoothie, or some posh coffee; You choose.

Staycationing with children

If you have your children on your home staycation try a few of these ideas?

Indoor or garden tent camping

Set up a tent indoors or in the garden. Fill with duvet covers, bedding, pillows, torches, and their favourite books and snacks. 

Board Games/ playing cards– Pick out or buy some board games to play as a family.

Healthy snack corner-Set up a healthy snack corner they can pick from over the weekend.

Watch a family movie and make homemade popcorn to go with it. This recipe video link uses avocado oil but you can use vegetable oil or sunflower oil as well. Kids love listening to the popping as it cooks and it tastes way better and is better for you than shop bought microwave popcorn. It’s also cheap to buy.

Last but not least

Your weekend staycation at home is about making time for rest and the things you love. Make time for rest and recovery without breaking your bank account; choose a few simple activities that you love. Create space and time to pour back into your cup- you deserve it. Let the weekend begin!