Embrace the summer staycation

Skip the airport queues, spare yourself the jetlag, and maximise your relaxation time by spending your next holiday at home. Fomo? Heck no. With lengthy lockdowns now behind us, having extra time at home is once again a luxury we could always use more of.

That said, it can be tricky getting into ‘staycation mode’ when you’re surrounded by reminders of everyday life. What you need is a plan – a plan to have fun – just like you’d have for any other holiday.

You wouldn’t start cleaning the gutters or scrubbing the oven in a holiday house, would you? Didn’t think so. For the duration of your staycation, you need to tune out the to-do list so you can focus on kicking back.

It helps to get your space holiday-ready before your staycation starts. Go ahead and hire a cleaner if you need a hand. Make up the bedroom with crisp sheets and fluffy towels, and if you’re planning a few sleep ins, don’t forget to turn off those 6AM alarms.

Decor matters but doesn’t have to be costly. Transport your senses with tropical-scented candles, indoor plants and cut flowers. Smart lightbulbs for your lamps are a simple way to create a relaxing, smart hotel mood.

It’s also a good idea to do a quick inventory and restock household essentials, because once your staycation starts, spending hours at the supermarket should not be on the itinerary.

Although your own home is the obvious place to stay, there are other options if you want a change of scenery without blowing the budget. House-swap with a friend, go camping for a night or two, or find a housesit via your local pet sitting Facebook group. There’s always demand for last minute housesitters at Christmastime, when more people head overseas and leave their fur-family behind.

Wherever you decide to stay, make sure you tie up loose ends at work, pay the bills and complete any urgent personal admin, then log out. You’re on ‘me-time’ now!

Staycations are your chance to experience your local area like a tourist, and that means seeing the sights, going to events, and having adventures in the great outdoors. We know it can be tempting to wing it when you’re based at home, but staycations need structure too. Create an itinerary like you would for any other holiday, jot down some must-dos and pre-book any paid activities so you don’t miss out.

Why not plan a scenic drive to a national park, beach or town you’ve never visited? Take an empty esky and stock up on local produce like fruit and wine along the way. Warm weather is the perfect time for surf lessons, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, guided canyoning, kayaking, and wild swimming.

More of a land animal? Check out the alpine wild flowers in the high country, while the fresh sea air will temper the sun on Australia’s best coastal walks.

Satisfy the kids and kids-at-heart with theme parks, waterslides, zoo trips, or chilling out at the local pool. Watch movies outside, whether it’s the drive-in theatre, open air cinema, or a DIY set-up in your own backyard.

Head into the city to check out a gallery or museum or get tickets to a comedy show, music festival or stage production. Check out big summer events near you like Mona Foma in Hobart and Launceston, or the recent opening of Sydney Modern. If you’re staycationing in Melbourne, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the excitement of the Australian Open in real life.

Food and travel may go hand in hand, but there’s no reason you can’t have a foodie experience during your staycation. Splurge on that local hatted restaurant and try new cafés, pubs and breweries.

Need a break from mundane mid-week cooking? Think simple, fresh, festive ingredients that require minimal preparation, like seafood, cheese platters and grazing boards, in-season fruit and salads, plus a specialty cocktail or two to wash it down. Negroni sbagliato, anyone?

You can of course break the ‘no tedious cooking’ rule for that special meal you don’t usually have time to make. A relaxed no-pressure mindset at home can be just what you need to fall in love with the process of preparing and sharing food again. So, dust off the pasta maker, cook low and slow over coals, fire up the pizza oven, or master the perfect macaron.

Speaking of macarons, some might say dessert is the ultimate indulgence, but we say nothing tops off a long, languorous lunch better than a siesta. Set up a hammock or recline the lounger, grab your Kindle, and doze off in the shade.

Catching up on Christmas movies or the year’s most anticipated games can be a relaxing way to spend some of your extra downtime, especially after a big day of local sightseeing. And let’s not forget all the summer sport you won’t want to miss. Optus Sport is available via Subhub along with a great range of popular streaming apps like Binge, Netflix, Prime Video and Paramount+.

There’s a time and place for screens, and Optus Pause is a great way to maintain the right balance for you and your family. In My Optus app, you can pause mobile services during board game night (no sneaky under-the-table Scrabble searches under your watch), or pause home internet to help tear the kids away from all that cool stuff they got for Christmas and get them out the door.

Sidekick is another great Living Network feature that might come in handy if you’re out and about by yourself. Set up the Sidekick timer when you’re out on bushwalks, bike rides, or even spending time at a remote beach. If you don’t turn it off before the timer runs out, up to three of your trusted contacts will get a message to check in with you.

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone!

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