Stop and Smell the Roses

Staycation. The term has really been trending this year!

Staycation:

A holiday spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.

Source:https://www.lexico.com/definition/staycation

I recently got to go on a staycation of sort. Obviously, due to the current situation, none of us can travel. But, if anything this pandemic has shown us the human race’s ability to adapt and in this case we did! Instead of their trips to Paris and shows in London (and retreats in Bali and charities in India) celebrities are posting pictures of their elaborate homes with gargantuan lawns where they plant trees and ride their horses every morning.

Of course, they have a full face of makeup on and are drinking ‘organic kale juice’ while doing so.

After months of staying home; missing out on an entire year of school and bored with the four walls of my home, I decided I needed a change of scene. Fortunately, my parents were on the same page. We concluded that the best way to have a vacation while staying safe at the same time was to go somewhere close to home, by road.

So, we set off for the weekend on a six-hour drive to a resort on the hillside. The drive wasn’t really a road trip, since we had a destination but yet I took it upon myself to curate the perfect playlist which was basically the families’ favorite songs (it took me two minutes to make it). As we went further out of the city and into the hills, I could feel myself drifting into stay-cay mode. We were surprised at how full the resort was. I guess everyone needs a break but nonetheless, we wore masks and sanitized religiously. It’s the new norm and we have to get used to vacationing this way right?

The view all around was breathtaking and the weather was perfect with it being pleasantly cold. It rained every night followed by fog the next day. The perfect setting to crack open a new book alongside a cup of coffee while listening to Conan Gray. It may not seem appealing to you but it was my ideal staycation. We spent most of our time inside the resort, walking around or playing games. There were a few trails nearby and so, we went trekking every morning.

The trails we went down were beautiful, with different flowers and plants adorning the path but most importantly, they were empty. So, for once we weren’t viewing the dreaded outdoors with a masked perspective! The treks were freeing and refreshing because there wasn’t a soul around. Just us and the open road. The end was the best part, the view was like something from a Bob Ross painting.

Of course, I have to share the view with you 🙂

All in all, the staycation was a godsend and all of us agreed that it was something we unknowingly needed. Who doesn’t need a break right?

Everyone, no matter who you are needs some time for relaxation and recreation at some point. We’re not machines after all. Taking a break isn’t a sign of laziness or illness, it’s normal. Everyone at every stage of life needs time off- as a student I do and as adults, my parents do too. In my post, Living through History while Postponing Revolution I wrote about being troubled by the sword of productivity hanging above my head and how the present situation makes it harder.

However, I think that regardless of what’s going on around us, those feelings of exhaustion that sometimes come upon us, be it mentally or physically will always be there. That’s why when you feel stressed, overworked or overwhelmed, it’s okay to take a break.

I’ve come across so many online personalities who document their lives online, take a break from social media or their job occasionally. I’ve even seen bloggers in the WordPress community who’ve taken some time off posting for almost a year and have returned feeling stronger and more inspired to write than ever.

Your surroundings may be telling you to catch a breath in many ways. You just have to recognize it. A break doesn’t only mean a staycation. It could mean going off all social media for a while or unwinding with a favorite hobby or favorite food. As long as you feel at peace and ready to take on any challenge at the end of it, it’s a break.

So, put your feet up and take a breather, everything else can wait.