New Meaning to Staycation

While we were engaged, my husband and I took a lot of staycations. He felt that my job and wedding planning were making me frazzled, and he made me get "away" from life on Sundays. We would go to church. Then we would go to a local park or the beach and read, talk, pet the dog.... They were a lot of fun. We don't do them much anymore, even though life seems just as hectic and stressful now as then, because we are always too tired on Sunday. So, you can imagine how I was intregued when I saw the following caption in my new "Cooking Light" magazine, "A former 'staycation' skeptic finds out why chilling at home has it rewards."

Then I read the intro:

"We yearn to relax, and we're programmed to do it during this supposedly lazy, supposedly slower time of the year. But if you're like me it just seems harder and harder to unwind in these high-stress times."

I was hooked. I had to read the whole article. The author had just described me! Summer is my busiest time of the year, and I am very frazzled right now! But, I hear people all over the place talking about "lazy summer days" and think "what gives?".

To this journalist, Kate Meyers, the following quote is the key:

"The key is to walk away from your usual routine and give yourself a chance to see what you enjoy when you don't have to work, when you don't have chores to complete. This means letting go of errands and to-do lists, and getting away from your electronic devices of choice - the things we ideally flee when we go on vacation (though the iPhone and e-mail are global and hard to resist; in Paris cafes you see American tourists thousands of miles from home scanning American blogs). We can abstain from these things perfectly well at home, to similar vacation effects."

That is what my dear husband made me do when we were engaged. It is getting hard to remember why we stopped.

Ms. Meyers gives this advice:

"Turn of the the TV. Leave a voice mail saying you're on vacation, put the e-mail on auto-respond, and stay away from Facebook, if you're into Facebook. This certainly sounds cheaper than a week long beach getaway, doesn't it? And in a way, this sort of unplugging can be more focused, too, because so often, on vacations, we fall prey to the same need for busy-ness that stresses us in our daily lives. (See this historic site! Explore that museum!)...

"If the economy has dictated a home-based vacation, use the time to really unplug. Make a few rules, and observe yourself in the unplugged state. Then carry it into daily life. The habit of being overbusy can become the habit of being less busy, allowing for more time to be fully immersed in your own life. And that's bigger than a vacation - that's a gift."

Ms. Meyers interviewed one guy who said he hasn't taken a "vacation" in two years, but he takes little staycations everyday. I think that is a really good idea. This guy took time to play ball with his dog, cook with his wife and read. Those were the things he enjoyed, and he took time to do those things in an unhurried way. He savored them.

I know this was not a Christian article, but I thought there are some things to be learned here. I should take the time to savor my time with God and my worship. What could be more restful! But, what do I usually hurry the most?!? Then there are other things in my life that I really enjoy... even parts of my job, that I don't really slow down and enjoy. What did God give them to me for anyway? I should make more of an effort to enjoy them and to take time to thank God for them. Not that I need to do more stuff, just that I need to enjoy or savor more. I let all the busyness of life and the frantic pace steal my joy. Like I need to be busy all the time and doing everything perfect to be a good "Christian". But, I have been reminded a lot here lately of Mary and Martha and how on that fateful day when Jesus showed up a their house He said that Mary had chosen well when she sat at His feet. How often do I take time to just sit at His feet and enjoy my bible study or quiet time without hurrying on with the worries and busyness of my life. He has been chastening me lately to slow down and deliberately pray and read my bible, and to love my husband slowly, and to not always in such a rush to do dinner just so. This may not be a Christian article, but it held some tips that might help me do what God has been impressing me to do.

So, I am listing below some things that I enjoy, and I am going to stop trying to multitask and enjoy them.

1. Hugging my husband
2. Curling up with my husband and doing anything
3. Petting my dog
4. Storytime planning
5. Storytimes
6. Studying for bible study
7. Quiet times in bed with God
8. Cooking
9. Playing the piano
10. Exercising (swimming, jogging, biking)
11. Walking the dog
12. Long baths
13. Reading novels
14. Reading magazines
15. Talking to my mom

So, what can you do to take a mental vacation where you are? It might be just what the doctor ordered to keep you from becoming over frenzied.

Until next time...