Welcome to the season of holiday travel, everyone! While many people are hopping on a plane to anywhere-but-here, we know that jetting away for the holidays isn’t always realistic. Whether you’re keeping your purse strings tight this year, or are simply opting for a quiet weekend at home, a staycation can be just the thing to help you relax and enjoy the holidays to the fullest. We are firm believers that a little TLC for yourself during this hectic season can be incredibly beneficial. So for any of you that are keeping away from the travel crowds this holiday season, we’ve put together a few tried-and-true tips to help you have the most memorable staycation right in your own home. Here we go…

1. Make Your Home A Retreat

While our homes are often a refuge from the busy day-to-day world, it can get monotonous opening the door to the exact same scene each day (especially if you’re wishing you were elsewhere for the holidays). But, with just a few simple changes, you can make your home into the retreat you never knew you had. A staycation is the perfect time to take advantage of all those holiday details that make your home feel cozy. Tidy up, turn on the lights on the tree, surround yourself with a few yummy-smelling candles, and put on a holiday movie or festive playlist. You’ll be in your escape before you know it!

2. Fill the Space With Friends…Then Have Some Time Alone

Especially if you live alone, or with one other person, sometimes having too much space around you can feel lonely during the holidays. If you’re wishing you were surrounded by some company this holiday season, don’t be afraid to host a little get-together and invite any friends and family over that are in the area. It will fill your home with that feeling of togetherness, and remind you of the reason for the season. BUT, make sure that when you’ve exhausted your hosting energy, you free up the house for some alone time. Being around lots of people can be draining, and you should take the time to relax so that your staycation is rejuvenating, rather than exhausting.

3. Indulge A Little

We all know that the holidays hold some of the best treats and recipes of the entire year, and there is nothing worse than the feeling of limiting yourself too strictly during the holidays. If you’re trying to stay in a healthy routine, feel free to keep up your daily healthy habits, but don’t be too hard on yourself. If you want the peppermint bark, eat the peppermint bark. If you want to curl up on the couch with a steaming cup of hot cocoa, go for it! Let yourself indulge a little during your staycation, then put the chocolate away and jump back into your routine when the weekend is over.

4. Take A Social Media Fast

You should never feel bad about staying home for the holidays, and the one thing guaranteed to make your staycation seem less-than-great are friends and strangers on social media flaunting their “perfect” holiday vacays. We all know that social media isn’t always what it seems, but sometimes those perfectly posed vacations on Instagram can still make us stop and compare ourselves to others. One thing is for sure: the holidays are NOT the time to be thinking, “Why didn’t my pie turn out as pretty as theirs?” or “How are they playing in that snow and still looking so perfect?” Instead, throw social media to the wind and enjoy that pie or play in the snow, regardless of what it (or you) looks like. Trust us, take a mini social media fast for a few days, and all the holiday posts will be there when the weekend is over!

5. Get Out of the House and Explore

A weekend at home can be incredibly relaxing after the chaos of the holidays, but too much time cooped up can make you stir-crazy. Make sure your time in and time out is balanced, to make the most of your time at home and stay level-headed. After all, a staycation weekend is the perfect time to get out and try that restaurant you always pass, or head to the spa you’ve always wanted to go to. If you catch yourself dreaming of all those things you’ve never found the time to do, this is the weekend to do them! Besides, nothing makes a vacay (or staycay) more memorable than experiencing new things. Think of it as a little well-deserved gift to yourself! Where will you be spending the holidays this year? Whether you’re traveling the world this holiday season or making your own getaway at home, we wish you the happiest of holidays!

Xx Team GM

Photos: Jessi Burrone for GrayMalin.com, Gray Malin