“Staycations” in the Age of Remote Work

In the age of virtual work and education, it’s easy to burnout. We don’t have as much of a separation between home and work, and statistics show that we’re more likely to work longer hours since work isn’t a commute away anymore. On top of all the stress of the times, it makes sense that most of us are approaching burnout with no real escape. The truth is, escape can be found at home, too. While many of us aren’t planning or embarking on vacations right now, we can plan and enjoy staycations from the comfort of our home, too.

Enjoy a Spa Day

If you just need a day to unwind from the stressors of working from home and homeschooling the kids, take a day on your weekend to really decompress. Perhaps run a warm bath and relax with some epsom salts and a good book. Drink something soothing and nourishing, like a smoothie or chamomile tea, and order dinner to be delivered so you don’t have to worry about cooking. 

Whatever ‘spa’ day looks like for you, dedicate that time to enjoyment and relaxation. Maybe you want to catch up on your favorite Netflix series or marathon your favorite movies. Perhaps you want to watch the game and eat pizza. Define what relaxes you and go for it. We all deserve downtime, no matter how busy our lives are. Dedicate time to yourself. 

Take Time Off

If you can, plan ahead to take some time off from work. Put your notice in ahead of time and start thinking about what you want to do during your at-home staycation. Don’t spend every moment of your time off doing “life stuff” — I know, we all need to catch up on laundry and dishes, but dedicate some of that time to taking a real break.

If you work with dedicated routines and deadlines, maybe don’t plan your days out during your break. Let the day unfold as it will while you unwind. Sometimes this break from routine can be just what your body and mind need to rejuvenate. 

As I mentioned before, do things you enjoy and make you feel good. Take walks and enjoy the fresh air and lovely afternoons that you often miss when you’re on the clock. I know taking time off can seem foreign or infeasible to some (I’m looking at my workaholic readers), but life is too short to spend months on end without a mental break. If you plan your break ahead of time, yes, you can do it. You don’t need to take a sabbatical, just a few days to be off the clock and relaxing. 

Budget Ahead

I know some of you are probably thinking that you can’t afford to take a break. That’s totally valid, but as I said, plan ahead. This doesn’t just mean ask for time off ahead of time, it also means setting some extra money aside to account for your break, as well. 

Put a little bit away for the next couple of paychecks and avoid the real cash drainers, like Starbucks or takeout. Save all that for your staycation. 

It’s not impossible to take a staycation, even when you’re living on a budget; it’s all about planning and budgeting ahead and prioritizing taking that break. Allow yourself to have that time to refresh and reset. All, yes, all of us need that for ourselves sometimes.