‘Staycations’, or the idea of taking time off work just to spend quality time at home have become hugely popular since the start of the recession and are cited by many as being a much greener approach to holidays. But for those embracing the Slow Life, which option is better?
It depends entirely on how you want to spend your break, of course! Jetting off to spend two days in a far-flung place with a punishing itinerary and more plans than time will never be very Slow Life, but if you’re lucky enough to have the time and resources to take a train ride somewhere relaxing, spend as long as you need getting to know that area and exploring by bike and on foot, you’re doing much better as a Slow Traveller.
The same goes for staycations. Many of us work all day every day for most of the year, and struggle to get things done around the home, leaving them to pile up until we feel emotionally weighed-down by an avalanche of incomplete jobs.
Sorting through a few of these jobs on a week off can leave you feeling refreshed: you might want to take some old clothes to a charity shop, or get around to building a compost heap. But the danger here is in thinking you’ll sort everything out on your staycation, leaving little time for fun or reflection.
If you are planning on taking a staycation, make sure you’ve set aside a few days just to chill out and take a step back from chores. Planning a few excursions should help you get into the holiday spirit, so have a look at what events are taking place within easy commuting distance and have fun discovering what’s on offer close to home.
The attitude you take with you on your holiday – whether at home or abroad – will be what makes or breaks it. If you’re going abroad, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time for the journey, and consider ‘slower’ options of transport. Once at your destination, be realistic about how much you can see, and don’t feel pressurised into ‘doing’ every tourist attraction going. It can be far more fun to discover a new location at your own pace.
If you’re staying home, remember you’re on holiday and don’t feel disappointed if you haven’t ticked off every DIY or gardening task on your list. Better still – don’t have a list! This time is all about re-charging your batteries, and whether that means having a few long lie-ins, reading the papers from cover to cover, catching up on some DVDs or visiting some farmers’ markets and museums, your body and mind will thank you for it. The last thing you want is your return to work being marred by thoughts of all the projects you started and failed to finish on your ‘relaxing week off’!
Image: Simple Tess
