8 Ways to Make Every Day Feel Like a Vacation
For many of us, a vacation is the highlight of our year, and an important way to decompress and relax: so when taking a trip isn’t possible, it’s hard not to feel disappointed. While you might not be able to go on vacation every day, however, you CAN make every day feel like a vacation, by following these simple tips:
Go for a walk without a destination
When was the last time you went out for a walk just to explore, and without a particular destination in mind? There’s a lot to be said for exploring an area on foot, and even if it’s a place you’re familiar with, there’s always something new to spark the imagination, and make you feel like you’re on an adventure – after all, a change is as good as a rest!
Get lost
When we’re in the car, most of us tend to just drive from A to B, always taking the quickest, most direct route, even though it’s a road we’ve traveled a hundred times before. Sometimes you don’t really have a choice with this one, but if you do have a bit of extra time, try taking a different route, or turning down that street you drive past every day but have never traveled. Sure, you might get a bit lost, but that’s half the fun, isn’t it?
Go out just for coffee
When life gets busy, going out just for coffee can seem like an indulgence you just don’t have time for. It’s really easy to let work and other commitments get in the way of your mental health, but unless there’s something really pressing to take care of, it can be nice to just sit and watch the world go by, like you do on vacation. Speaking of which…
Read a book
Reading for fun is another luxury that many of us tend to reserve just for holidays – or plane rides, even. While cracking open a book in the middle of a working week isn’t exactly going to transport you to the beach, however, it will at least allow your head to take a vacation – which is the next best thing.
Be a tourist
A lot of people don’t like being seen to do “touristy” things – especially not in their own city. For some reason, there’s a bit of a stigma attached to “being a tourist”, which is a shame, because a day out in the place you live is a great way to let yourself feel like you’re on a mini-vacation. The great thing about being a tourist in your own city is that you can see things in the off-season, when they’re less crowded (and often less expensive, too); and even if they’re not, nothing will make you feel like you’re on vacation quite like surrounding yourself with people who actually are.
Make breakfast an event
If you’re used to eating breakfast on the go – or skipping it altogether – why not try taking your coffee outside, and spending just a few minutes enjoying it? Not only is it a great start to your day, it’s exactly the kind of thing you might do on vacation, when you have all the time in the world.
Have a day without any plans
One of the best things about being on holiday is that feeling when you wake up in the morning and know there’s absolutely nowhere you have to be, and nothing you have to do – the day is completely yours, to do whatever you like with. You can’t do that at home every day, obviously, but every so often it can be good to forget all of that stuff and do whatever you fancy – within reason, obviously…
Give your home the hotel treatment
New towels, the highest-quality bed sheets you can afford, a few nice products to use in the shower… OK, they might not make your home feel like a five star hotel, but if they can make it feel just a little more like one, then so much the better!
Of course, no matter how hard you try, staying home is never going to feel quite the same as taking the trip of a lifetime. By thinking about the things you love most about vacations, though, and doing your best to integrate them into your life at home, it could well be the next best thing.
To start planning your vacation, browse our selection of Emerald Coast vacation rentals! We look forward to seeing you soon and making your vacation dreams a reality!
Published on Thursday, June 17, 2021