At-Home Vacation Rules

Spending your vacation time at home may not sound very exciting, but with the right mindset it could just be the best vacation you’ve ever taken. Here are some ground rules to get you started on the right track:

1.         Forgo your regular schedule. A week at home won’t be much fun if you continue to carry out your normal responsibilities, so make a vow to let things go. Allow the house to be messier than usual, let the answering machine take your calls, leave your e-mail unchecked, forget about your bedtime—just do whatever it takes to free yourself from the workings of everyday life.

2.         Allow yourself to indulge. Part of the fun of a vacation is that it’s a time of indulgences. So, give yourself permission to go a little wild. Get take out food twice in a day. Eat at a restaurant you’d normally deem too costly. Spend a day at the spa. Decide how you’d like to spoil yourself, and then give yourself the permission to do it.

3.         Plan ahead. To ensure that you don’t just spend your time laying around the house (unless that’s what you want to do) be sure to plan your vacation ahead of time. Decide what area attractions you’d like to visit, what movies you’d like to see, etc. With a bit of planning, an at-home vacation will seem just as fun and exciting as a regular vacation.

4.         Deal in favorites. Vacations are the perfect time to surround yourself with your favorite things. Wear your favorite clothes, stock the fridge with your favorite foods and round up several of your favorite movies.

5.         Make your vacation known. Let everyone know that you’ll be out of reach while you’re on vacation. This will help to eliminate interruptions while you are “away.” If you don’t think people will respect your need for uninterrupted bliss, just tell everyone that you will be on vacation, and don’t disclose the location.

Set up a few ground rules for your at-home vacation, and it may just be the most enjoyable vacation you’ve ever taken.
 

-Erin Huffstetler