Every year (at least in recent history) I take a week off of work at the end of January for my birthday, because why not? I have the vacation days and I don’t want to work on my birthday and I like me a good ol’ staycation.
There are different ways to take a staycation. First, you can actually book a hotel room in your hometown, or the nearest big city, and play tourist in your backyard. This doesn’t have to be for your full week of PTO, but an overnight at least. Or you can truly stay at home the whole time, with no plan at all, or maybe a vague idea of what you’d like to do during your time off (or you can have an extensive agenda!).
So how do I plan my staycation?
First, my staycation is always at home (or at least they have been to date). And I work up a loose plan as to what I’d like to do and a rough idea of when I’d like to do those things. At least a month out, I start compiling a list of things I want to do. If I have things that I need to do I’ll also note those (this is less fun)… and then, dare I say, things I “should’ do (also not fun, and I don’t like to should on myself).
The truth is, I like to use a staycation to get stuff done around the house because my weekends are usually limited as to what I can get accomplished in that regard and I’m usually procrastinating… I mean, resting. And house stuff is my jam, I love it and can get lost in it for hours, so it makes my staycation something I look forward to.
The designer in me takes it a step further by making a page in my Notion that maps out each day I have off (including weekends). I note the weather forecast for each day and make it all pretty. I try to schedule an anchor event (weather dependent) each day plus up to three things I’d like to get done from the various categories (want, need and should). Sometimes I stick to the plan, other times I shuffle things around. And I don’t sweat it if I don’t get everything done (this is a work in progress, I like to check things off).
My upcoming staycation itinerary
- Paint some walls and ceilings
- Reattempt my sourdough starter
- Get a hair cut (truthfully I will cut it myself…)
- Call Anne (old co-worker I’ve lost touch with)
- Call Xfinity (about rates for renewing contract)
- Take down my Christmas decor
- Walk to library and finally get my library card
- Try new bagel place
- Visit my aunt and uncle
- Breakfast out at iHop or local diner
- Get blood drawn for 6-month follow-up
- Go to the gym at least 1x
- Start a painting!
- Remix jewelry (make a new piece from old)
- Go thrifting (and take donations)
- Take my birthday portrait photo
- Have a spa/self care day
- Read :::heart eyes:::
- Watch The People We Meet On Vacation
- Work on freelance/blog stuff
- Bake myself a birthday treat
- Go to Longhorn for my birthday dinner
- Have an online shopping spree (for my own birthday presents)
Most of these things I’m looking forward to, some I’m dreading! I’d like to be able to check them all off, but that’s probably a little optimistic. I want to rest too! I still have to make my Notion page and see how it all fits together…
Do you take staycations? What do you like to do?
Photo by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash