The last few months have been filled with uncertainty. Many people have experienced a slew of new stressors and anxieties, and after months of dealing with “all of this” we all could probably use a vacation. Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, most travel has been postponed or even cancelled.

But who says you need to leave home to relax?! We’ve put together a list of ways to “vacation” from anywhere. These simple tips can help you remove yourself from your day-to-day so you can return to it refreshed, relaxed, and feeling like you just spent a long weekend away.

Take a day or two off of work

Hear me out. I know taking a day off when you aren’t leaving town or don’t have a “significant reason” to not be working might sound like crazy talk. But taking a personal day when you simply need a mental break will improve your overall performance on the job. You may be thinking, “Wait, can’t I just use my weekend for that?” You could, but how often do you find yourself with a to-do list when the weekend starts full of laundry, yard work, deep cleaning, and other not-so-fun or relaxing activities?

Try taking a personal day filled with activities that feed your soul. Read a book that has been sitting on your bedside table, cook an elaborate meal that would take too long on a regular old weeknight, head to a yoga class you can never make because of a recurring 1:00 meeting. Give yourself permission to relax and let go.

Take a night off from cooking

This is an easy way to give yourself a break! If you are anything like me, you plan your vacation around where you’re going to eat and the new foods you can try. But when you’re not on vacation you spend at least an hour each night prepping and cooking a meal. Give yourself a break by ordering dinner from a new [to you] local restaurant. There is no better feeling than ending a long day by having someone else make and deliver your dinner! (Plus, you get to support a local business – win-win!)

Turn off your phone

Now you’re thinking, “This girl is off her rocker!” But again, hear me out. Carrying a computer around in your pocket means that you are never truly tuned out from work notifications, breaking news, TikTok dance trends, etc. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated, try turning your phone off for a little bit. Start with 15 minutes, and gradually increase the time as you feel comfortable.

Take a social media break

Social media can be a humongous time suck if you allow it to be. Plus, it makes it way too easy to get sucked into the comparison spiral or the bad news black hole. Use the time that you would usually spend scrolling to spend more time engaging with people in real life. Engaging face to face (or FaceTime to FaceTime, Zoom to Zoom, etc.) builds stronger connections, better non-verbal understanding, and improves your overall health.

I hope these tips encourage you to take a break. A vacation does not necessarily need to be a big, fancy, expensive expedition. It can be something simple that allows you to vacate your day-to-day for a little while and returned refreshed.

How do you escape when you’re not able to travel? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear about it!