The Real-World Benefits of a Staycation
By Sara Butler
Not everyone can afford a vacation to a tropical paradise or an adventurous destination. For many of us, staycations are what we can afford -- but it turns out they may be exactly what we need. That’s because staycations present you with a unique opportunity to improve your health and wellness. Instead of focusing on what you aren’t doing (maybe next time, Hawaii), let’s focus on just how great staycations can really be.
Staycation Defined
What, exactly, is a staycation? I’m glad you asked!
A staycation is a vacation you take at or near your home. For my family, our staycations generally consist of staying at home but taking fun day trips to places near us that we don’t normally get to explore during the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Staycations are great because you don’t have to worry about packing too much, travel expenses, or Montezuma’s revenge! They’re a great way to save money, enjoy your time off from work, and avoid the inevitable stress that goes along with travel.
You can take your staycation to the next level by turning off your smartphones and planning time together with your family without the anxiety of everyday life creeping in. It’s a great break from the monotony of your everyday to-do list!
The Best of Both Worlds
Vacations are full of temptations. Sure, you don’t really need that deep-fried churro cheesecake ice cream sandwich, but since you’re on vacation, why not? You see where I’m going with this. Vacation is about indulgences, but staycations offer you the best of both worlds when it comes to your health and wellness.
Since you have access to a kitchen (your own!) stocked with real food, you won’t be eating a week’s worth of sodium in one meal at a restaurant. But you can still go out and explore the area in which you live, eating out if you want along the way. Not to mention, your home kitchen has an incredibly generous cancellation policy for meals.
Staycations also allow you to work in visits to healthcare professionals you may not have time to do regularly -- such as visiting your chiropractor at The Joint!
The Benefits
Staying at home may seem a bit boring to some people, but you can gain more from it than saving a few bucks! Staycations allow you to relax. Sure, heading to Walt Disney World may seem like a lot of fun, but vacations take a lot of planning and planning means a lot of stress. Staycations take the stress out of the equation so you can rest, relax, and go with the flow. When was the last time you could say that about your vacation? When I returned from my last couple of vacations, I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation! My last staycation, on the other hand, left me feeling rejuvenated and relaxed -- just like a vacation should.
Staycations also allow you to appreciate where you live just a little bit more. Over the course of everyday life, you may not get to check out local museums, shops, parks, or other attractions that you consider to (ironically) be for tourists. Be a tourist in your own town and see what’s around you to discover!
During your staycation, take advantage of something that is probably the most important aspect of time off from work -- spending time with the people in your life who are important to you. Perhaps there are some friends you don’t get to see very often or activities you’d love to do with your kids but simply don’t have the energy. A staycation may not let you see the world, discover other cultures, or understand unfamiliar traditions, but they do allow you to reconnect with the most meaningful people in your life and that’s always good for you.
You have plenty of time to explore the planet and check things off your bucket list. But between those exciting vacations, reward yourself with a staycation!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.