09/20/12 - 0 Comments
Staycation: Rediscovering a Little of Yourself and Your City
While most of us are itching in our offices for the clock to hit 5pm, ready, ambitious and planning our cocktail-filled social calendars and nightly evening activities, we very much take on the same mentality in extensively planning our vacation getaways.
Although expeditions and galavanting in uncharted territories may be new and exciting, sometimes we overlook all of the hidden treasures in our own hometowns. Even more so, with today’s ever-demanding work schedules and external obligations, we tend to overlook our own personal needs for some good old R&R.
So this week, we give you some tips and tricks for self-discovery and hometown adventures.
Take a bus or drive your car to a completely foreign part of town. Bring that favorite book you’ve been dying to get through, but haven’t been able to. Find a café and order something you typically wouldn’t. Engage in a conversation with a stranger and be open. Spend the day exploring. Play tourist. Finish your book and you’ll thank yourself later!
Spa day. Ahhh, everyone loves the spa, but few people have the determination or guilt-free mindset to allow themselves a day of leisurely indulgence. Dish out the cash (you’re saving by staying locally anyway) and pamper yourself to the nth degree. Stay at the spa all day, make sure to buy yourself one, if not two, treatments and fully embrace the sauna, steam room and jacuzzi services. Drink chilled water with lemon and let yourself relax. Detox is, after all, essential for realigning your mind, body and spirit.
See an exhibit. There are constantly cutting-edge exhibits of the latest and greatest artists and tastemakers making their way to a location near you. They probably aren’t a priority on your to-do list because you are tied to work and weekends are dedicated to what precious me-time you have left. So, next time you have some spare time, put on your inquisitive hat and devote the day to cultural enlightenment. Take your time roaming around, order a cushy meal at a nearby eatery, order a fine wine and go back. Enjoy your surroundings and learn something new. Not only will you gain a fresh perspective, but this will get your own creative juices flowing.
Vino and apertifs. Sometimes, all you really need in life is a fantastic drink and a leisurely evening. Stack up on wine and your favorite finger foods and don’t look back. Invite the girls or snuggle with the man-friend and let loose. No inhibitions, no time-frames, no agenda— just wine and more wine. Let yourself go and let yourself feel lavish in doing so. One night of complete relaxation and excellent wine amounts to four vacation days! You will feel even more rejuvenated than your coworkers who are hiking all of Yellowstone National Park in their free time. Treat yourself to an evening of opulence to make your staycation complete!
And there you have it—the wonders of a vacation all from the comfort of your very own hometown. Because, in life, when nature calls, it’s usually telling you to look within, decompress, relax and spend some time with yourself. We are all on a constant journey to learn more about ourselves by being with ourselves.
Photo credit: Life Unsweetened
