You’ve seen the Instagram ads for self-care kits, but what good is a bath bomb if you never have the time to use it? That’s why it’s important to be intentional about your self-care practice, and one of the best ways to do that is by taking a wellness staycation.
What Is a Wellness Staycation?
Staycations are a great way to save money and still get out of your normal routine, but how you “do” a staycation is entirely up to you. Do you pack up the kids and take them to grandma’s while you and your partner stay in a hotel for the weekend? Or do you stay at home but visit museums and restaurants that you normally wouldn’t go to?
A staycation should match your lifestyle, your budget, and your needs. But a wellness staycation should do more than just provide a break from your everyday routine. Restorative and uplifting, a wellness vacation gives you a set period of time to relax and focus on your own wellness.
Hotel vs. At Home
When you start planning your wellness staycation (and yes, you should plan it out and not just wing it), you first need to decide where you’re going to stay. If your budget has enough room for you to stay at a hotel or a spa, consider going that route. Removing yourself from your normal environment will mentally help you focus on committing to your wellness.
However, it’s also totally possible to have a fulfilling and restorative wellness staycation right at home. To do this, you need to remove all distractions. Clean your house before your wellness staycation, not during. If you have children, see if they can stay with your parents or your partner’s parents for the weekend. If you live with your partner, ask them to respect your privacy and your intentional wellness practice during your staycation.
Eliminate Distractions
So, what exactly do you do during a wellness staycation? The answer depends on you, but there are certain things that everyone should eliminate. That includes cleaning your house, running errands, babysitting – and here’s the big one – checking your laptop, tablet, or phone.
Cut out the devices because your wellness staycation needs to be free of digital distractions. No work email, no social media, no long text conversations should interrupt your focused wellness practice. Study after study has shown that the more time we spend on social networking, the more depressed and anxious we are.
Leave the FOMO behind for the weekend. Change your notification settings so that your phone will only make a sound if you receive an important call. Then, put it somewhere where you can hear it if there’s an emergency. Here’s the hard part: resist the temptation to check it. If you do check it, give yourself grace, but remind yourself that you need to be focusing on you – not the whole digital world. You can do anything for a weekend, and that includes ignoring your phone and the harmful digital intrusion it could be during your wellness staycation.
Focus On What Rejuvenates You
Now that you know what to take out, let’s focus on what you should add in during your wellness staycation. The answer depends on what you like, where you live, and how much you want to do.
For example, taking care of your skin is a part of self-care for many people. You can go and get a facial during your wellness weekend. If you never have time for a manicure or pedicure, then that may be something you want to do. A massage is another great idea. However, make sure you don’t just book your weekend full of beauty appointments. Set aside alone time that’s just for you.
For example, taking a bath is an incredible way to spend part of your wellness staycation. A recent study revealed that people who took baths twice a week found that it helped their depression. Use bath bombs or Epsom salts and light a candle. Listen to soft music and let yourself completely and totally relax.
During your wellness staycation, you should try meditation. You may be able to find a meditation class in your area, or you might want to see what YouTube has to offer. Intentionally meditating can help your stress levels and is an enriching way to spend part of your staycation. Journaling is also another activity that can help you find peace.
Yoga is another fantastic practice you can incorporate into your weekend. Again, either find a class in your area or see what YouTube has to offer. If you don’t have all the gear, don’t worry: put a towel down on the floor in your home or hotel room and give it a go. Yoga studios will most likely have mats you can borrow.
Keep the Energy Alive
All good things must come to an end, including your wellness staycation. As you begin the week after this restorative staycation, remember the good energy that rejuvenated you throughout the weekend. Try to intentionally bring that energy with you into the new week. Oh, and the last step? Schedule your next wellness staycation so you can start looking forward to it now!
