Summer always seems to arrive with big expectations attached to it – long trips, packed suitcases, airport queues, and lots and lots of photos where it all looks perfect and impressive. But sometimes staying closer to home is exactly what you need, and the only problem is that it doesn’t automatically feel like a break unless you make it one. So if you’re planning a staycation this year and you actually want it to feel relaxing, keep reading to find out how to do it. 

Don’t Overplan It 

The funny thing about a staycation is that people sometimes try to turn it into a full itinerary, as though they need to justify not getting on a plane. But the whole point is that you’re staying home, or close to home, so you don’t have to rush around ticking things off. 

If you want it to feel relaxing, it’s got to be less busy and stressful, and although having a couple of loose ideas about what you might do is fine (helpful, in fact), it’s not great to try to fill up every second of every day. If you do that, where’s your relaxation time? You’d make sure you got it if you went abroad, so why not at home as well? And remember, the best part of a summer break at home is that you don’t have to try to fit too much into a few days because you flew somewhere expensive. 

Dress Like You’re Actually On Holiday

It sounds almost silly, but the truth is that what you wear actually can change how you feel, and if you spend your staycation in the same old clothes you use for chores and errands, it’s not going to feel very different. But if you put on something that says ‘holiday’, it’s going to put you in a different frame of mind. 

You could try wearing things like t-shirts and shorts, summer dresses, lightweight shirts, or maybe even tailored summer suits if you prefer, and all of those things can make an ordinary afternoon feel a bit more special. And once you feel a bit more put together, you’re more likely to go out and do something or relax outside rather than think about the housework or collapse in front of the TV, for example. 

Create One Holiday Spot

You don’t need to redesign your entire house (that’s not very relaxing), but it will help to create one spot that feels different from everyday life. That could be the garden with cushions and outdoor lights, for example, or maybe it’s a corner of the living room with some added fresh flowers and maybe open windows. 

Basically, having at least one space in your home that’s different and new could be the ideal way to tell yourself (and remind yourself) that you’ve got some time off. Yes, you’re technically still at home, but the atmosphere has changed, and you can enjoy that to the utmost. 

Eat Differently 

Food is a big part of holidays, and that doesn’t have to stop just because you’re not travelling. Try cooking something you wouldn’t normally make during the week, or eat outside if you can, and open a bottle of something cold in the early evening and sit with it properly rather than multitasking. 

You don’t have to go to town, but doing something unusual is another great signal that you’re on holiday, and that’s important.