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, whatโs changed and made it an attractive alternative for many families?
โThe Staycation became a thing after the 2008 crash when many families simply didnโt 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. โThis year, there are a number of families who didnโt 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 youโre 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 canโt do that if youโre never mentally away.
Hans said: โYou also want to limit your computer time. Remember, youโre on vacation. Restrict your computer time to researching potential day trips. NO E-MAIL, unless youโre being sent a confirmation or reservation number.โ
He also recommends not setting an alarm if you donโt have to. Remember, you are on nobodyโs schedule but your own. You also want to limit your household chores that week unless youโre specifically taking the week off to complete a project, e.g. painting your house, keep your home chores to a minimum. That doesnโt mean let the dishes in the sink stack up. Just donโt 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, โYour phone can be handy if youโre traveling with other families or your group splits off into twoโs. So, leaving it home is not practical. Just make sure you donโt take calls from anybody not in your vacation group. If youโre curious or worried about an emergency, just check the voice mail they leave.โ
Continued Hans, โIf you were on a cruise ship you wouldnโt 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.