A vacation doesn’t always have to include a plane ride to a warm tropical destination. It also doesn’t have to be centered around a jam packed itinerary filled to the brim with exploring, sightseeing, and activities. Sometimes, simply staying home is just enough to recharge your batteries. 

A staycation not only gives you the time to straighten, clean, and declutter your house, but it also allows you time to just enjoy your home, a luxury we can’t usually afford due to the daily grind. You get to kick your feet up and watch a movie on the couch or spend time outside with your dogs without the inherent stress of work creeping into your good time. It’s a very slept on way to rest, relax, and recuperate to make sure you’re enjoying life and not just going through the motions. 

When I was younger, I dreamed of going somewhere new every time I had a break from school or work. I wanted to fly to a new city to make new memories and explore my surroundings. I wanted to drive for hours upon hours just to spend a couple of nights in a hotel room and eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I wanted to take pictures of huge skyscrapers, attend basketball games, and experience things I couldn’t while living in Americus. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. Traveling to a different city can definitely be relaxing if you decide to lay out by a pool or the ocean. You can also indulge in a fancy spa experience that features a deep tissue massage, a flute of champagne, and strawberries served on a platter. Typically speaking though, it’s hard to guarantee a trip will be relaxing when you’re trying to experience everything a city has to offer in such a short time. 

I’ve honestly never had the opportunity to stay home 10 days straight until recently. I must say, it was a great way to start 2024 and I’m already looking forward to when we can do it again. I thought taking time off from work just to stay at home was a strange phenomenon until I experienced it for myself. If you don’t have any specific travel plans, staying at home is a far superior way to take a vacation. You’re in the comfort of your own home, you can control the thermostat, and you don’t necessarily have to spend money for entertainment. 

Sometimes you get so caught up in the daily routine of life that you don’t realize just how worn down and tired you might be. It’s easy to get swept up into the constant list of tasks to complete. More often than not, it feels like there’s just not enough hours in the day to get everything done, and surprisingly, the more people to attend to in your household, the faster and more fleeting time feels. 

Yes, it’s easy to say everyone has the same 24 hours to get things done. However, if you really break the hours down, you’ll realize that the majority of each day relies on proper planning and immaculate time management. As much as I would love (and I mean LOVE) to sleep in until the early afternoon, it’s not feasible for the lifestyle my husband and I live. We have goals that we’re trying to reach that require discipline, dedication, and focus in all aspects of our daily lives. 

While sleeping in occasionally doesn’t seem to be a bad thing on the surface, once you look deeper into the opportunity cost of it, you quickly realize that decision isn’t necessarily the most productive use of time. You have to ask yourself - what am I giving up just to sleep in late? If you’re sacrificing time to work out, cook a nutritious meal, spend quality time with your family, or even work on a business venture just to sleep, it might just be time to reevaluate your priorities and create some new habits that’ll work for you, not against you. 

It’s definitely a learning curve to figure out what works best for you and your lifestyle, but it’s one of the most rewarding things you can do for your daily self. Properly managing your time will help you complete multiple tasks without rushing, feeling overwhelmed, or procrastinating. You’ll be able to cook meals for your family, workout, indulge in a hobby, practice self care, read, prepare for the next day, and even watch some mindless entertainment all in one evening with good time management. 

If you enjoyed this episode, let me know by giving this video a thumbs up, leaving a comment, and subscribing to my channel. I’ll see you in the next episode! 

Signed, 

Jessica Marie