Many people are gearing up for summer vacations, but some of us may have to stay put Summer 19'. Whether you're taking summer courses, saving up for your first home, paying off student loans, having little ones, or whatever it is adulting throws at us, it doesn't mean you can't get away. Say hello to the staycation.
Now, I know this may not seem like the most relaxing option, but I promise if done right, you WILL feel recharged after a two-day staycation.
Here are a few ways you can plan your first (or next) staycation in the comfort of your city, no flight required.
1.Change Your Scenery
Getty Images
Staycations don't mean you can't bring experience something new. Is there a new hotel you've been wanting to try? Or are you longing for a big tub to take a bubble bath in with a bottle of your favorite red wine? If you're nodding your head yes, book that hotel room or Airbnb. The hotel you've been eyeing might be a bit of a splurge, but you're worth it. Not to mention, since you don't have to account for airfare into your budget, you'll have a few extra coins to spend there.
2.Turn Off The Notifications
Getty Images
Put the phone down. Turn it on do not disturb. Oh, and don't forget to turn off your emails, social media push notifications, and anything else that will take away from your ability to kick back, relax, and pretend you're living your best life in another city. For those of you with little ones and significant others, this may be a challenge. But if you can, try to refrain from checking in too often.
3.Make Reservations
Getty Images
I just talked about experiencing something new, and food is a great way to see your hometown in a new light. I suggest finding a few places where you can make reservations, so you can skip the day-to-day tasks of waiting in lines or eating on the run. Apps like OpenTable and Resy make it easy to reserve your table and find out which restaurants are worth trying.
4.Do Things You Wouldn't Normally Do That You Enjoy
Getty Images
Getting lost in a new city does make the world around you feel fresh, and depending on the size of your town, there is always something new to explore. If you're an art lover, purchase a ticket in the middle of the day and wander around your local art museum. Do you enjoy cooking? Book a cooking class at Sur La Table or a pottery class from a local artisan through Airbnb Experiences.
5.SPLURGE
Getty Images
At the start of this article, I talked about all of the reasons you might not be able to plan a vacation someplace else due to budgeting. But, I'm going to encourage you to prepare for at least one splurge on your staycation. Check in on your monthly budget and see where you have wiggle room. It doesn't have to be an exorbitant amount. Spending the night or two at a swanky hotel with excellent service is my idea of a splurge, but for you, that might be purchasing tickets to see your favorite artist, booking a day at the spa, or buying a couple of new outfits to wear while you take in the city. Don't bust your budget, but make sure you make a little room to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I know we all have our financial responsibilities, but we should always make time to disconnect and recharge even if we can't fly away.
What's your ideal staycation? Tell us in the comments!
Featured image by Getty Images
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
7 Reasons A Staycation Should Be On Your Self-Care Agenda
How To Create A Pamper Routine Your Self-Care Saturday Will Love You For
Why Every Woman Should Travel Alone At Least Once In Her Life
- How to Plan a Luxury Staycation at Home (Ideas) ›
- Staycation Ideas | Real Simple ›
- How to Plan the Perfect Staycation - The Everygirl ›
- Enjoying a Staycation? 15 Tips to Keep It Frugal and Fun | HuffPost ›
- 12 Staycation Ideas That Won't Bust Your Budget ›
- 16 Things To Do On A "Staycation" ›
- 10 Ways to Make a Staycation Your Best Vacation Ever | Kitchn ›
- How to plan the perfect staycation - Business Insider ›
- How to Plan a Staycation | DaveRamsey.com ›
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
