5 Super Cool Reasons to Choose a Summer Staycation

For the past year, every time I looked at May on my calendar, I became giddy with excitement. Not only is this my birthday month, but we were also planning on taking a much-needed vacation to Bermuda. We'd made exciting plans for lounging on the soft, pink sand of our private beach, splashing in the refreshing turquoise water, and snorkeling with a rainbow of tropical fish. But then something happened we would've never planned on—a pandemic.

Though disappointed that Bermuda couldn't be our destination of choice this year, I knew we needed to find a way to spend this scheduled time relaxing and chilling out. If we couldn't travel to our vacation, our vacation would come to us—hello staycation!

What the heck is a staycation?

You've probably heard the term, but in case you haven't, "staycation" is the trendy term for taking a vacation without traveling far from home. There are hundreds of definitions, but my favorite comes from financial guru Dave Ramsey:

An increasingly popular way to get away from it all is to go nowhere. Believe it or not, you can have plenty of fun by staying in your neck of the woods. It's called a 'staycation,' where you pack zero bags, never fight traffic, and don't have to pay an arm and a leg to fill up the gas tank. For those who just want time with their families or a break from the office, the staycation is a great way to relax without busting the budget.

Dave Ramsey

Time away from your usual routines, including limited contact with smartphones, social media, and other distractions that cloud your mind and prevent you from unwinding, are essential when planning your staycation.

Create a staycation mindset   

The first element of a fantastic staycation is creating the right frame of mind. Palm trees and cruise ships certainly add a magical feel to a getaway, but if you gear up for fun and relaxation, you can still achieve those vacation vibes minus the tropical atmosphere.

Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, Ph.D., author of Rest and The Distraction Addiction, says that a vacation can help you tap into a mindset that allows you to relax. But you don't have to go on an extended trip away from home to accomplish that. In How to Reap the Mental Benefits of a Vacation Without Actually Going on One, Pang explains:

The psychological benefits of vacation wear off...

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