TravelFOCUS: Here's Your Guide to an Epic Staycation
- Woodie Lesesne
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
In this blog, I am going to share one of my little secrets that keeps me in control and provides needed breaks from a demanding life. Here I will focus on “Staycations”. Maybe you have heard the term “Staycation”, but you’re not exactly sure what that is. So let’s be clear on the definition. A staycation is defined as a recreational break spent at home or within close proximity.
It could be one day or an overnight, the main part for me is that it doesn’t require a flight and all that comes with it. It's important to remind ourselves that we can control our time, resources and our perspective on what life is about.This is the first of my series on TravelFocus. Now, let’s focus our attention on some Practical Tips for Maximum Staycation benefits.
Before I deep dive with my tried and true Practical Tips for Maximum Staycation Accessibility, let me share what may excite you about where I'm coming from.
As a media owner and content producer for LMG Entertainment, I travel for business to film and produce digital media content for our channels and clients, attend conferences and travel for leisure. Like you, I too have had the best and worst travel experiences. I will share valuable tips to help your staycation experience.
An amazing staycation lives or dies by your mindset, because without a mental shift, you aren’t on vacation—you’re just at home with an empty calendar. The groundwork for success lies in intentionally deciding to treat your local environment with the same sense of wonder and "permission" you’d give yourself in a foreign country. This means consciously opting out of the "homeowner" or "resident" brain that sees a list of chores, unfinished projects, or routine obligations. When you cultivate a "traveler’s mindset," you become a pioneer in your own neighborhood, finding novelty in the familiar and luxury in the stillness. By setting firm boundaries against digital intrusions and domestic labor, you create the psychological space necessary for true rest, proving that the quality of your escape is determined more by your internal outlook than your external coordinates.
It is important to consider that industry experts project the global staycation market may grow at a rate of 8.7% beyond 2025, showing a steady rise in people choosing local over long-haul vacations. You are not alone if you are considering less stressful options.
There are plenty of benefits to planning and enjoying a staycation. I love to travel and experience new places and things as much as some folks, but personally, my challenge is the time and effort needed to walk through the whole process
As you know, that includes things like booking a flight, hotel, rental car, restaurant reservations, etc, even before you arrive at your destination. I want to share ways in which we can make the most of our time, dollars and maintain peace of mind.
It requires less planning ahead and allows for spontaneity when you have those unexpected or short windows of opportunity available to explore your local neighborhoods and cities in close proximity.
Practical Tips for Maximum Staycation Accessibility:
Become a Tourist in Your Own Town: Grab a local guidebook (or just Google "things to do in your city/town and discover hidden gems you've always meant to check out. That quirky museum? The charming little bookstore? The hiking trail just a few miles away? Now's the time!
Embrace the Power of Proximity: Plan activities that are a short drive, bike ride, or even walk away. This minimizes travel time and maximizes your relaxation and exploration time.
Utilize Local Resources: Check out community calendars, local events listings, and neighborhood social media groups for spontaneous happenings you can easily join.
If you just want some relaxing time at home, transform a space in your Home into a Sanctuary: Think fluffy towels, your favorite candles, maybe even a new plant to bring some zen vibes. Create a space that feels special and different from your everyday routine.
My husband and I have this fantastic little staycation ritual: Beach excursions are an absolute favorite. Sometimes, we just stop and chill out as pictured below. Its time feel relaxed, take in the soft ocean breeze to refresh and rejuvinate - better than the spa. Other times, we'll drive over to South Beach, or any of our coastline cities in Florida, park the car, and then rent scooters or bicycles.
Suddenly, we're tourists in our own backyard! It's amazing to think that we travel an hour or two from home and get to soak in all the incredible benefits that people from all over the world travel countless hours, sometimes even days, to experience right here in South Florida..
Now, staycations aren't exactly a groundbreaking new invention, but I truly believe they're wildly underutilized. Speaking from personal experience, these little local escapes have become an essential part of my mental wellness routine. Even just a day or two of feeling like you're "away" can do wonders! The sheer accessibility of a staycation is its superpower. You can literally wake up one morning and decide, "Today, I'm on vacation!"
A staycation isn't about not traveling; it's about intentionally shifting your perspective and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, right where you are. So, ditch the travel stress and embrace the blissful ease of a staycation getaway. The possibilities are vast and just a short distance away. Enjoy!
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