Cancelled airline flights. Escalating gas prices with no end in sight. Financial uncertainty. With the overwhelming financial stress facing our nation today, most Americans are in dire need of some downtime to recharge their fading batteries. Because of the downturn in the economy, a traditional vacation is out of the question for many Americans. In fact, 30 percent of the families in this country are changing their summer plans and sticking closer to home, according a recent survey conducted by the travel web site TripAdvisor.
Fortunately, mental health experts say that the psychological effects of "staycations" can be just as beneficial, if the stay-at-home event is treated with the same respect as a traditional vacation. For instance, a staycation must have a start date and an end date and you must make a commitment not to let household chores distract you from your goal of rest and relaxation.
Planning a vacation is part of the fun and staycations are no exception. Get the whole family involved. Have the children make lists of local attractions and activities they would like see included in your itinerary. Set an agenda for every day of your staycation. One day, you might have a barbecue followed by a "campout" in the backyard. Another day might include a visit to a local zoo or a picnic in the park. Set aside a day to spend time at a wave pool, water park or a local lake.
As rude as it may sound, you may have to put out the "you're not welcome mat" in order for a staycation to be successful. For instance, you might find that it's better not to tell your employer that you will be vacationing "in town" so they won't be tempted to call you about the "little things" that emerge while you are enjoying your well-deserved, hard-earned respite.
Being close to home probably means you'll have e-mail access. But just because you can check your e-mail or scroll through your BlackBerry doesn't mean you should. Psychologists recommend completely swearing off e-mail and letting co-workers know that you'll get back to them when you return from your staycation, just as you would if you were removed from the technology.
Above all else, vacations need to be fun. Set a mood, create an atmosphere and choose a theme. Go to local discount stores and purchase fake palm trees, beach music and maybe some new beach towels. Rent a few movies that your family has been wanting to see. Cook up some healthy, fun snacks to enjoy for the duration of your staycation. Having fun doesn't have to be expensive.
In addition to helping your personal economy, "staycations" have the added benefit of helping Mother Earth because they can reduces emissions from cars. If 30% of Americans are actually committed to "staycations" the cumulative effect could be significant. The actions we take in the next several years will determine the kind of world our children and grandchildren will inherit.