Cut Your Air-miles with a Staycation

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

We all know that when it comes to travelling, aeroplanes are bad news for the environment. In his book The Rough Guide to Green Living, Duncan Clark says: “Two seats on a return trip from London to San Francisco produces the equivalent impact of around five tonnes of CO₂”. To put that into context, Clark explains that it’s equivalent to driving 20,000 miles in an average car.

 

But few of us want to give up our annual vacation, so what’s the alternative? Well, the ‘staycation’, which gets its name from combining ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’, is becoming an increasingly popular choice. And although a staycation means staying close to home rather than travelling overseas, it doesn’t mean you have to stay in your own home, doing the same things you do all the time. Here are some ideas for a fun staycation:

 

• Explore your local area – quite often we forget about the gems on our own doorstep. Pretend you’re a tourist in your own town and visit the places you normally pass by.


• Try new ways of travelling – you don’t have to jump on a plane to see parts of your own country. Why not try a walking or cycling holiday instead?


• Enjoy an activity holiday. There are many holidays that combine a relaxing break with the chance to learn a new skill so see what’s available in your local area. From writing retreats to cookery courses, they are a great way to try something new whilst taking a break from your usual routine.

 

 

Categories: catton, equivalent, jenny, local area, nbsp, staycation, staycation nbsp, travelling, vacation, written

Time Out: Why You Need Some Down Time

Virtually every minute of the day, someone is engaged in some form of activity somewhere – regardless of what time it is. Part of the reason for this is that technology has made everything so accessible. Along with that has come the expectation that people be available, practically 24 hours a day. While it is convenient to have the ability to do this, it has also created a situation where people are under more stress than ever before. Lifestyle StressLife can be very intense for just about everyone. Students have strict study schedules and adults must adhere to long working hours with very few, if any breaks. In fact, with all the employment cutbacks, workers have been expected to double and triple up on their duties, making it even more difficult to take a break. The irony is that these circumstances alone make it even more important to take periodic breaks.

Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle takes its toll on mental, emotional and physical health in many ways that people do not realize. As a result, people are sick more often and also develop emotional illnesses such as depression.

 

Health Benefits of Breaks

There are plenty of studies that have shown the major benefits of taking breaks from regular responsibilities. For instance, the ability to focus easier, adopt a more positive attitude and better physical, mental and emotional health overall. To that end, below are some of the ways that people can boost their mental and physical stamina by incorporating breaks into their schedules.

 

1. Divide and Conquer. For instance, set an alarm after each several hours to walk around or put attention onto something else. Whether it is 5 minutes or longer, studies have shown that energy and productivity can go way up when people have a few minutes every few hours to get refreshed.

 

2. Alone Time. Take some time alone at the end of the day or during days off at a local eatery or coffee shop. Thirty minutes to an hour can do much to replenish energy that gets lost during the course of a day, both at work and while attending to other duties.

 

3. Take A Staycation. Spending a night at a hotel can feel like much longer, particularly when you do it alone. Having the chance to just be by yourself in different surroundings can be very beneficial on every level. One of the mental benefits of this is a higher level of clarity that can enhance anyone’s life. Many hotels have last minute specials during off season that people can take advantage of, making it easier than ever to do this. The Doubletree By Hilton, which has hotels by Washington PA and all over the country, offers specials that include massages, special meals and more.
4. Relax. Arrange for in-home massage or take the time to do another activity that relaxes and soothes you. Doing this on a daily basis makes it easier to relieve the pressures of the day that adds to the body and mind’s healing processes.

 

 

Common Sense

Interestingly, European countries are much more sensible with regard to taking time off. This is why they typically not only offer many more personal and holidays off, but 3 weeks of vacation are often mandatory. This is because they understand that burned out employees will not enhance their businesses. Even U.S. workers, however, can adopt a European attitude when it comes to resting as often as possible.

 

Whether periodically during the day, or taking a rejuvenating vacation – just scheduling a night or two at a local hotel from time to time can make a huge difference for people and boost their mental, spiritual and physical health exponentially. As a result, we can all reap the benefits of a much higher quality of life.

 

 

Living in a large metropolitan city, Melanie Fleury can find tons of things to do on a staycation right near home. She has found that taking a moment to relax makes her a better mommy and wife. The Doubletree Hotel by Hilton has hotels all around the world and in your own backyard. Whether vacationing in Asia or spending the night in hotels by Washington PA , take time to pamper and relax. Every mom deserves a moment just for herself.

Categories: relax, staycation, Time Out