Get Outta Town!!!
Summer is here and you are you feeling the urge? I gotta get outta here! Here in NYC summer is great! But once July arrives, I feel the need, the hunger, the craving! I just HAVE to be soaking in the Mediterranean, eating delicious fresh food, drinking local wine, dancing, spending time doing nothing, hearing another language (ok, my neighborhood is really multi-culti. So much so that it’s kind of strange to hear English) You get the picture, right? I have a travel bug in a HUGE way, and sometimes it just isn’t in the cards to get on a plane and get away….waaah! sniff, sniff….
So what to do? We all have heard the term “STAYcation” by now, but have you ever really taken one? And have you really enjoyed it, or were you feeling like it was just a lame-o time when all of your friends were doing something fab and you were stuck at home?
Read these easy tips to having a cool STAYcation that won’t break the bank, and you will actually have FUN and feel refreshed and re-charged! Staycation Prep
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How long will you be “away”? This is a really important first step! Will you be away for a day, or three, or even a week? Just like any other trip write it in your calendar, clear your schedule so nothing gets in your way of your time off.
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What do you want to do? Take the time to figure out what things you would love to do. What are the things that you don’t normally have the time for? What things do you love to do on vacation, but never allow yourself to do in “normal” life? And this can’t be work-related! Even if you love what you do, everyone needs a break to recharge, so plan it!
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Turn OFF! When I am on vacation I don’t live by my email, blackberry and phone. I’d love to say I don’t check my email at all , but I do….just once a day and at maximum two. Give yourself a rule, just as you would if you were truly out of town. No email at all, or just a little peek? You decide, but stick to it! You are on vacation after all:) **For extra credit you can even add the vacation responder to your email**
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Where are you going? A STAYcation is great if you have a theme, and it’s definitely way more fun! So, are you going to the beach, to the country, or on a European vacation? The amazing thing is that the possibilities are endless! Have fun with this and have your theme color your activities and choices.
It’s ON! And you’re OFF!
Now that you are on your FABULOUS STAYcation, what are you doing? Here are some fun ideas to get your STAYcation juices flowing, so that you are really excited about your trip!
- LISTEN! Every time I am in Italy during the summer, there is the one hit that is the song of the summer! And to this day, when I hear those songs, I am taken back to lying at the beach and hearing those songs. So, depending on your theme, and where you “traveled” to, make your musical choices color your trip! You can even go to itunes and change your country and see what is the music for the location you are “traveling” to. I do this all the time…kind of dorky, but I am OK with that;)
- EAT! Now we’re talking! I looooove to eat! So if you are in Morocco, let’s visit a moroccan restaurant and eat a yummy tagine! In France, go to your favorite bistro and enjoy the mussels and frites. Or you can do it up, Rachael Ray style, and cook up a fantastic feast at home! Save a few bucks and listen to your theme music while cooking. YUM-O!
- EXPLORE! Be a Tourist, even in your home town! There are certainly places to go and things to see that have landed on your “some day we should” list. Use this time to take advantage of events, parks, landmarks or neighborhoods that you have never really explored. This is your vacation, so see the world through those eyes. Take it all in, and enjoy!
- WATCH! Watch some movies that take place in your STAYcation location:) This is a fantastic way to transport you to your destination and really give you the experience of being there. No plane tickets needed!
- READ! Find some books that take place wherever you have “traveled” and loose yourself in the story.
- CREATE! One of my favorite things to do is to create a vision board, or inspiration board. Grab some magazines and take the pictures that make you feeel like you really are on your trip. It can be as literal or abstract as you like. Whatever you can do to CREATE the experience of really feeling you are there. It’s fun and inspiring and really activates your energy!
- CHILL….Do nothing, and love it! Give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing if that is what you feel you need.
Now don’t you feel better! Have as much fun planning and being “on” your STAYcation as you would if you really were out of town. It’s a great way to keep you refreshed and recharged!
Have a fantastic trip!