Is there a right way to take a Staycation?

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Can you really not go anywhere and call it a vacation? Even more importantly, can you take time off, stay at home or go away, and unplug from the office? As the Staycation enters its second decade, whatโ€™s changed and made it an attractive alternative for many families?

โ€œThe Staycation became a thing after the 2008 crash when many families simply didnโ€™t have the resources to take that trip to Disney World or the rental fee for that lakeside cabin or ocean cottage, so they stayed at home for vacation,โ€ said Peter Hans, president of Discovery Map International since 2005. โ€œThis year, there are a number of families who didnโ€™t quite get as large a tax return as they had in years past. Consequently, the Staycation is back on the table for some families.โ€

While the Staycation may be in its second decade, the ground rules for fun and stress-free breaks remain pretty much the same. For starters, no contact with your office allowed. Just because youโ€™re not going away for an extended trip is no reason to be calling in to the office. Time off is meant for you to rest up and recharge your batteries. You canโ€™t do that if youโ€™re never mentally away.

Hans said: โ€œYou also want to limit your computer time. Remember, youโ€™re on vacation. Restrict your computer time to researching potential day trips. NO E-MAIL, unless youโ€™re being sent a confirmation or reservation number.โ€

He also recommends not setting an alarm if you donโ€™t have to. Remember, you are on nobodyโ€™s schedule but your own. You also want to limit your household chores that week unless youโ€™re specifically taking the week off to complete a project, e.g. painting your house, keep your home chores to a minimum. That doesnโ€™t mean let the dishes in the sink stack up. Just donโ€™t sweat it if the lawn goes a few days without being cut.

Additionally, a rather bold suggestion for your Staycation is: Leave your cell phone off unless you need to use it. Said Hans, โ€œYour phone can be handy if youโ€™re traveling with other families or your group splits off into twoโ€™s. So, leaving it home is not practical. Just make sure you donโ€™t take calls from anybody not in your vacation group. If youโ€™re curious or worried about an emergency, just check the voice mail they leave.โ€

Continued Hans, โ€œIf you were on a cruise ship you wouldnโ€™t answer a call from the office. Your Staycation deserves that same respect. Remember, you work hard for your time off and you owe it to yourself — your family and — believe it or not, your employer to come back rested and ready with your batteries fully recharged.โ€

For more information on Discovery Map, visit discoverymap.com.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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