Vacations are excellent for helping us unplug and recharge, but sometimes the demands of family, school, work and finances make getting away impossible. But just because you can’t actually book a last-minute flight to a tropical beach doesn’t mean you can’t get the mental and performance boost that a vacay provides, you just have to get creative.
Dr. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of “Rest and The Distraction Addiction” says you can hone in on that vacation-focused mindset and de-stress and relax at home without taking a traditional trip. Here’s how to get the benefits of a getaway without actually getting away.
- Embrace a staycation -It’s not as glamorous as a destination trip, but science suggests taking a break from work for a staycation at home can provide the same benefits. You’ll still get to unwind and do it all from the comfort of your own home, so no packing or stress from traveling. And Pang points out, “The only bad vacation is the one you don’t take.”
- Set aside a night for something spontaneous -Focusing everything on one trip a year can actually create stress because you overthink the details of the vacation, so designating a night for a fun adventure every few months can be a good alternative. Forget the fact you can’t go to an exotic destination and cook dinner inspired by a country you want to visit or find a budget-friendly event that’ll give you the mental boost without running up your credit card.
- Cross something off your bucket list -It can be anything that gets you excited and deviates from your usual routine, as long as it helps you relax from the stresses of your day-to-day life, it’s doing what a big vacation does, just on a smaller scale.
Source:She Knows