How a staycation can enrich your life

I hadn’t really wanted to take time off work this week and not go anywhere. But Steve needed to work, and I needed a break and, not wanting to go without him, I decided to join the ranks of those in the UK who haven’t gone away this summer.

Initially I felt resentful that I wasn’t going to be visiting my favourite Maldives Island this year. There’s nothing like lazing in the sunshine to recharge your batteries, right? But the more I thought about it, the more I started looking forward to a big chunk of unstructured time at home and what that might do for me.

As it turns out, it has given me things I really would not have anticipated.

• No pre-holiday stress. Without the deadline of an international flight and all the panic it entails, I found that I breezed through my last few days of full-on work. On the evening of the day I finished, rather than rushing around insanely trying to pack a suitcase, I opened the patio windows into my garden, had a large glass of South African red wine, and immediately began to relax.I’ve had no jet lag. Neither have I spent the first few days of my holiday recovering from the exhaustion of the extra work that getting organised for a holiday away entails. That’s meant I’ve benefited from my holiday right from the off.
• No wardrobe pressure. I don’t go to catwalk resorts. Nevertheless, there’s always a bit of thinking and planning to do to figure out what you’re actually going to put in your suitcase and therefore wear for the week or two you’re away. And even if all your clothes are in good nick, fit you and don’t need cleaned or replacing, there’s the holiday toiletries to consider. SPF 15 or 20?Whether this means a trip to the stores, or some online shopping, there’s always something. I’ve given myself a holiday from all of that this year.
• No assault on my bank balance. Whether we’re talking the cost of the holiday itself, or from spending money, or incidentals like the new clothes or toiletries above, there’s a cost of going on holiday. Whilst I haven’t spent my holiday in a darkened room, incurring no costs (read on for details), I have saved myself a small fortune this summer.I have no guilt about making a hole in my savings account, or putting large charges on credit cards. That is very freeing. Especially in the current economy.
• Enjoying what’s around me. I live in London, which is a noisy, busy city, and so easily taken for granted as such. Not only that, but I spend a lot of time working from the office in my house and the line between work and home can sometimes get blurred.  But I’ve felt at home this week. For instance, I have relished my small but beautiful courtyard garden. The sound of trickling water running over my little cobble stones has dulled the passing traffic’s noise. The wildlife that comes in and around the garden has kept me both amazed and amused. Gloriously coloured butterflies floating on the breeze, and an acrobatic squirrel jumping hoops to steal the fruit of my fig tree.Beyond home, it has been so cool to hang out in my favourite coffee shop every morning and not have to rush off to do something. I’ve spotted the regulars now. Thinking I’ve become one of them, they’re even beginning to say hello to me.But my favourite day was Tuesday when I drove down to Buckinghamshire and spent the day walking through the trees in the Chilterns.
• Unleashing the inner girl. All work and no play, right…?  So, I decided to do some things for me this week. Treats.  I had a manicure and pedicure one day, and a professional make-up done on another. These were great fun. Chatting to the technicians about how obscenely funny the film Bruno was. Playing with the different shades and colours and experimenting a bit. I also bought a stack of magazines and got caught up on both the gossip and what the new season trends are. Still to come is a massage and maybe a haircut. But already I feel brand new!
• Taking the pressure off social media. I’ve loved having the time to spend on Twitter, LinkedIn, and on reading other people’s blogs this week. I have connected with some great new people and learned some really useful things. Steve has looked at me a bit askance from time to time as I’ve been lying on my sofa staring at my Mac. But what I might once have thought of as “work” has felt the exact opposite. And rather than feeling tired and drained by spending time I am inspired and excited. I have lots of ideas and new thoughts to take back into my work when I start back. I have figured out some design changes I’m going to make to this blog and how I’m going to build on the business idea that’s germinating through it.

So I feel rested, energised, creatively refreshed, polished and ready for the next season of my life and work, whatever that looks like. Who would have thought I’d have got that from staying at home? And I still have over a week left!

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