Don’t let being stuck at home stop you from getting a much-needed escape from reality
With the ongoing pandemic, your travel plans for reading break may have been dashed, leaving you feeling trapped at home. Some of us may be more accustomed to spending our breaks on a beach rather than in our childhood bedrooms, and as a result many of us are yearning for a vacation.
However, a staycation might be just the thing to fill this travel-shaped hole in your heart. Try out some of these tips to relieve stress and boredom in the comfort of your own home.
Redecorate
Vacations always offer a change of scenery when we want to escape our typical day-to-day life. Even if you can’t physically be in a different country during your break, some new decor can be just the thing to emulate the destination you’re longing for!
For example, if you’d much rather be in Hawaii, go out and buy some island decor to decorate your room or home with! Think leis to drape across windows, tiki cups for drinks, fake tropical plants, and colourful tiki torches or lanterns. Most of these items can be found at the dollar store, so you can have fun on a budget.
Host an indoor picnic
Another perk to a vacation is digging into new and delicious foods with your friends or family. As a fun alternative, try having an indoor picnic with your loved ones.
Each of you could make a different cultural dish you’ve never had before or stick with a favourite. If you can’t cook (like me), order from a restaurant to share with everyone.
Before you lay out everything to eat, place a picnic blanket down on the floor or on your dining table. Feel free to bring board games too and let the fun begin!
Explore virtually
If what you miss about vacationing is being able to explore a new environment, do not fear!
Virtual tours are abundant online and usually free.
There is a website called Window Swap that will transport your desktop to the view of another person’s window across the world. With the press of a button, you could witness scenic, panoramic views of London, England.
Another option to check out is the Discovery channel on YouTube, where you can find Discovery TRVLR. This series of virtual reality videos allows you to experience different places and activities. You could check out a mountain top sunset in Bolivia or meditate with a Buddhist monk in Vietnam!
Have a spa day
All these ideas sounding like a lot so far? Maybe the reason vacationing appeals to you is because it gives you an opportunity to slow down and do some self care, such as visiting a spa at an all-inclusive resort.
Dedicating a day at home solely to pampering yourself is a great substitute. Painting your nails, massaging your face with an ice roller, and applying a face mask and hair mask will give you that same refreshed feeling, all achievable in the comfort of your own home. Try making a tropical drink for yourself to enjoy as well, and put on some calming island music to help you relax!
Try stargazing
Another calming at-home activity is simply basking in the beauty of the night sky. Nothing is more peaceful than doing some nighttime stargazing!
Transport yourself to the sky over reading break—no airplane required—by bundling up, grabbing a chair and heading outside at night.
You can also invest in a laser star projector if the weather is too cold for you or if you’re more of an indoors kind of person. Amazon sells many versions of these galaxy lights that can transform your ceiling into a pretty night sky. I have one from the company BlissLights, and I am obsessed with it.
Take a trip down memory lane
For a slightly tweaked version of the indoor picnic, incorporate some slideshow presentations into your evening. You’ll find that a travel slideshow night makes for a very entertaining and nostalgic activity during your staycation!
Before coming together, each person in your family or group of friends makes a slideshow filled with images of a vacation they once took, along with explanations of their favourite places and events. Everyone can also bring a souvenir they bought while on their trip to show the group. Reminiscing about the wonderful experiences and sharing them together might even teach you something new about each other!
A staycation is a fun, affordable, and relaxing way to spend your reading week break. Even after two years of living with COVID-19, these strange times still feel daunting, and it can be frustrating to be cooped up all of the time. Just keep in mind that the most important part of your vacation is putting aside time for yourself to do what you love, whether that be learning about new cultures or simply spending time with your loved ones.
A version of this article appeared in print in The Ontarion issue 192.2 on Jan. 27, 2022.
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