Get Staycation Ready

5 minute read

The term ‘staycation’ is thrown around a lot these days, often used to mean holidaying somewhere in the UK. But its true meaning is holidaying at home. 

Our homes are usually where we spend most of our time, especially with more of us now regularly working from home. In today's blog, APDO member Lauren White considers ways to make the most of a holiday at home, ensuring it does actually act as a break. 

Set the scene

What’s the best bit of a break for you? If it’s crisp bed sheets, set aside some time to put fresh bedding on and spritz something in the air to add ambience. Treat yourself to a fancy magazine or two to place on top of the bedspread. 

Or perhaps it’s luxuriating in a hotel bathroom? In which case, prep by giving your own bathroom a good clean before your staycation starts. Remove old, unused products, declutter and tidy any shelves or spaces, then add candles, bath salts and a pile of fresh towels. You could always make your own ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign, too! 

Did you know APDO members can help you reset specific parts of your home? That way, you can do some intentional decluttering and organising without adding any stress to your holiday preparations. 

Day tripping 

Places you’ve never explored before, that are within reaching distance by car or train, are a perfect place to start your staycation. Even if you have to get up early for them! You can have a lie-in or lazy morning the next day, so there’s no excuse not to treat it like an excursion in an unknown country. 

You could see what National Trust or English Heritage spots there are just that bit further away from you. The Woodland Trust also has loads of great outdoor spaces and lots of fun things to keep the kids busy. There’s the added bonus of learning something new and being able to take your own picnic with you. 

Treats

While saving money on hotels and eating might be a big draw for a staycation, a few treats can help to set the holiday mood. It could be getting a huge sundae at a nearby ice cream parlour or buying ingredients to make your own fancy dinner from a local farmers’ market. 

There’s no need to make a big splash or buy souvenirs you don’t need. It’s more about factoring in something that you’d say ‘I wish’ to in day-to-day life, so you’re giving yourself a meaningful mood booster. 

Together time 

Relaxing, exploring and trying new things are all part and parcel of a good holiday. Quality time spent connecting with our loved ones is, too. 

It can be tempting to drift off into our own spaces if staycationing. Kids in their rooms, parents running errands, doing a quick bit of work, or trying to catch-up on the cleaning. Stop! If you want to do any of these things, think about when, why and how they’ll be done. 

Then think about the ways in which you’ll bring that feeling of holiday connection in to your time together. It could be setting up a tent in the garden, enjoying dinner together outside or playing a card game you wouldn’t usually play together in the evening. Take time to share your stories and spread some joy. 

Boundaries 

There are so many benefits to staycationing, from saving money to staying with your beloved pets. You’ll only be able to enjoy everything a holiday at home has to offer by making a plan and sticking to it.

That doesn’t mean there can’t be any flexibility in your plans. It does mean being rigid with yourself about switching off from work or other distractions, though, and letting your brain take a rest. Being present in the moment is the most important thing - which is still true if this is a solo break just for you. 

You might want to consider blocking or deleting certain apps from your phone for the duration of your holiday. Most smartphones now have features where you can set timers on your usage. If you have an iPhone and need more of a deterrent, you could try getting a Brick - a device that pairs to your phone to block selected apps and which you need to physically touch to reactivate (whereas using your own phone’s settings means you can simply click the same few buttons to get access to the apps restored again). 

Make sure to identify your needs, expectations and any things that might derail you so you can plan for them in advance. Discuss these with whoever you’re holidaying with, so you can be on the same page and offer each other support. 

Scheduling & Budgeting 

There are family planners everywhere from Amazon to Etsy, but you could also get creative and make your own! This can be a lovely crafty activity for kids to do in advance of the break - and can help keep them busy in the evenings, on weekends or other school holidays. 

Having something stuck to the fridge or the wall for a week, showing all the things you’re going to do, is a good way to keep on track. 

Knowing your staycation budget is one of the most important things in advance of your holiday. Day trips, treats, petrol or train fare can all add up quickly! 

Getting to grips with your overall household monthly budget is a good place to start and doesn’t have to be daunting. You’ll need to know your income and outgoings but once you’ve got something set up, it’s easy to adapt. Then you can see what you can save toward your staycation and the fun part - what you can spend it on! The government Money Helper website has a free online tool you can use to create a monthly budget and Money Saving Expert has a downloadable spreadsheet you can own and adapt if that’s more your thing. Both have lots of guidance to help you on your way as well. 

Doing this can also set you up for a long-lasting feeling of calm and control once the staycation is over. Productivity is a specialism for some APDO members, so planning time, budgets and household load is right up their street. And the beauty of it is, it can often be done either in-person or virtually, so it’s that bit easier to fit into your schedule.

As with any holiday, a bit of advance planning - and action! - can help you make the most of your staycation. Whatever you do, have fun.