What to “Pack” for Your Staycation

Planning a staycation is decidedly different than going on an actual vacation. When you choose to treat yourself to a staycation, you have the freedom to truly relax — because you aren’t going anywhere.

You can enjoy this experience completely from the comfort of your own home. That can be a huge relief when all you really want to do is get away from the daily stresses of life, unwind, and emerge refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to handle whatever comes your way. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare for your get-away-from-it-all experience. From comfortable women’s loungewear to a few household essentials, here’s what you may want to keep handy even if you aren’t packing a suitcase.

Comfortable Clothes

One thing you definitely don’t want to spend too much time thinking about during your staycation is what to wear. It should be a breeze to get dressed after you treat yourself to a soak in the tub or a hot shower on a brisk morning. But comfy clothing is always a part of the equation. It will help you relax while you’re curled up on the couch binge-watching your favorite show, or when you’re in bed flipping through a book you’ve been wanting to read. Soft, flexible items like lightweight tops and women’s sweatpants are always great choices that will make it easy for you to disconnect from the world.

A Swimsuit

You may not be going to the beach — unless you happen to live near it. You may also have a pool or access to a nearby pool, or love walking to the nearest lake or river for a little reflection and downtime. Whatever your situation, it could be helpful to have a swimsuit handy in case you’re tempted to dip your toes in the water.

Going swimming is a great way to stay active during your staycation without overwhelming yourself. That’s because it’s an equally relaxing experience. Yes, you’re moving your body and getting your heart rate going, but you aren’t pounding the pavement or hitting the gym. Water is soothing and will put your mind at ease. And if going swimming is something that you don’t normally have time to do, this staycation will be even more meaningful to you if you can fit it in.

A Soft Blanket

Rule number one of a successful staycation: You have to allow yourself to completely relax. That could mean many things, like putting your phone on silent for a little while, ignoring emails for the entire duration, and committing to communicating only with the people in your household — or with no one at all, if you’re craving a truly solo break from the world. One way to ensure that it all goes as planned is to have a soft fleece blanket in your staycation arsenal.

Great for sleeping at night, fleece blankets will keep you warm and toasty but won’t weigh you down uncomfortably. Because they’re so lightweight, they’re easy to transport around the house — which means you can effortlessly bring it to the couch when it’s time to fluff the pillows, sit back, and enjoy that series you’ve been trying to get through for about a year now. What better way to do that than in complete comfort?

Camping Essentials

You may not be planning an actual camping trip, but there’s no reason you can’t have a little fun with the family from the comfort of your own home. If you have kids, they’ll love the idea of getting away from it all without actually going anywhere — especially if you take the steps to make it as authentic an experience as possible. They can finally put that play tent to really good use! And you can make great use of the grill on the deck if it’s something you just don’t have much time for under normal circumstances.

Make it as real as you can by pulling out your children’s sleeping bags and setting up the tent. Set everything up in the backyard if you’re comfortable doing that, or simply create a virtual “campground” inside your living room. Dim the lights, tell a few spooky stories, and enjoy some tasty, camp-friendly treats. The beauty of doing all of this from home is that you don’t have to deal with the inconveniences of actual camping.

Make the Most of It