Financial Education
Are your most recent travel destinations Las Kitchen, St. Sofa and El Porch? With social distancing, school closures, changes in work arrangements, travel restrictions and stay-at-home guidelines keeping us home more, you may feel like you need a getaway more than ever. Even if you can’t travel far from home right now, a little creativity can go a long way toward boosting your spirits. The following staycation ideas are inexpensive and can help you re-imagine this time at home.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Aaahhh, taking a deep breath can help ease tension. Create a home spa day with a stress-relief candle, relaxing music, gentle yoga poses, a bubble bath or foot soak, skin and hair treatments — whatever may make you feel better inside and out.
Get Your Groove On
Going stir-crazy and want to be more active? Liven things up by learning a dance routine. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to master the dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Now’s your chance! Check out online videos to learn other popular dances.
Let Your Creative Juices Flow
A day of art therapy can do wonders for thinking differently. Allow your imagination to run wild with paint, construction paper, stickers and other art supplies you might have stored away. Have some coloring books and colored pencils on hand? Coloring is a relaxing activity for all ages. Want to get the whole family involved in a project? Challenge all family members to do a self-portrait or one of a family pet!
Go On Virtual Tours
If your planned vacation was cancelled or postponed, there are ways to satisfy wanderlust with the benefits of no packing, lines and crowds. Several famous tourist attractions from around the world offer tours you can take with your computer or smart device. Museums include the American Museum of Natural History, The British Museum and the Louvre. Observe favorite animals with virtual views of the San Diego Zoo and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Take your online journey further by learning about photography techniques or foreign language tips that can enhance your next real-world travel experience.
Refresh and Reorganize
Keeping your home clean and clear of clutter can help you feel more relaxed, like walking into a tidy hotel room after a busy day. Consider rearranging furniture for a new perspective. Tackle closets and other storage areas to see if you have items that can be sold or donated. Organize pictures and other memorabilia in photo albums or scrapbooks. Often these are things we’ll get to “later,” so being able to get them done now can be a great feeling of accomplishment.