Normally I would be on a trip somewhere around this time of year. For years, our student’s association planned trips at the end of april, and later, boyfriend and I started our own little tradition to celebrate our anniversary in the beginning of May by going somewhere. But now, we’re stuck at home thanks to corona.

So how about a vacation at home, better known as staycation. It’s almost time for summer break but a lot of trips have been cancelled. So in this post I will share my tips for a great staycation. Because a vacation at home can also be fun and relaxing!

Separate your workspace from your vacation

Stop working when you’re on a break sounds obvious. Normally, when you’re going on vacation, you put literal kilometers between yourself and work and it’s rather easy to turn off that work switch and emerge yourself in a citytrip or sunny beach.

But for a lot of people, the place you’re staying for your vacation is also the place you’ve been working for weeks. And then it would be so easy to just check your email for a second, and before you know it, your vacation days are over and you have spent them working.

We all need to unwind sometimes, so take this time to close your laptop, put it in a closet somewhere, or in a room that you won’t need the coming week(s). A place where you can’t see it, where it won’t distract you.

And while you’re at it, you can also choose to do a complete digital detox. Put your phone away as well. Stop scrolling, stop checking the news and facebook. It’s time to relax, spend time with your loved ones. Turn off your phone, turn off your computer, live in the moment, read a book, don’t think about work. That also includes household chores. Would you vacuum or do the laundry when you’re away to Venice? Probably not. So you won’t do it in your staycation either. It’s as easy as that.

Recreate an awesome vacation location

In the week before your vacation, plan ahead to make your home feel like an amazing place to spend some time. Buy flowers or plants. If you have a garden, set up a swimming pool, hang up a hammock, stuff your garden with new plants. You obviously could do the same indoors. Buy flowers and candles. Hang a hammock indoors, why not?

The best tip I could give you, is building a pillowfort. Seriously. I did this yesterday and it was so much fun (especially when the cats tried to walk on the ‘roof’). A nice cosy place, no phones, laptops or work allowed, just a cosy space to relax and unwind.

Try some new recipes or restaurants

Part of the fun of going on vacation is trying new foods. You could easily do this from home too. Try cooking some new recipes, make some cocktails, bake a cake… Or if you really don’t want to do anything this week, try some new takeout restaurants. Maybe they will surprise you.

Have a picknick

If you’re not on a complete lockdown, have a picknick in the park. Bring a blanket and some yummy foods. Muffins, cupcakes, donuts, sandwiches, fruit… Anything you like! Just enjoy being outside, sitting in the sun and having a nice lunch. And if you aren’t able to go outside to a park, try having one in your garden or balcony. Or in your pillowfort.