The word staycation is a combination of two words, stay (as in stay-at-home) and vacation. The concept of a staycation became popular in the United States after the 2008 recession when people were cutting back on expenses. While the economy is recovering, the staycation is here to stay.
Staycations offer many benefits. Of course, they’re economical. But staycations are also much less stressful than packing the family’s bags and weaving through a crowded maze of planes, trains, and automobiles. Staycations allow you to sleep late, shop at the farmers market, and try new recipes. You can also visit local parks, pools, malls, and museums during the week when everyone else is at work. Or how about trying out a novel idea for the whole family—a home cleanup project.
Did I just say home cleanup on a staycation? Yes I did.
At first glance cleaning does not sound like the ideal way to relax – but it can be relaxing as long as it’s done in a fun, stress-free way. With your spouse or partner and kids all at home, take a few hours to gather up goods to give to charity, do some light dusting and vacuuming, and give the kitchen and bathroom a quick once-over. With all hands on deck, your house can sparkle within a few hours. Then reward everyone’s hard work with a special treat like a trip to the water park or the zoo.
If you add home cleanup to your staycation, do it early in the week. The house will be nice and tidy the rest of the time and you won’t have to think about dirt, dust, and grime while you’re staycationing.
A recent study showed that one-third of all employees who get paid vacation time don’t use it, even though experts say vacations lower stress and improve employee performance. So if you decide to take a staycation, remember to relax and have fun – whether you’re dusting the mantel or enjoying time with your family in other ways.