As much as we’d all like to go away somewhere fabulous for the December holidays, the fact is that for some of us, our budget will only let us go so far. Like to the park. Fortunately, if it turns out that you have to stay home for the holidays, there are still plenty of ways to get the end-of-year rest and relaxation you deserve.
1 Start planning
You know how you read about awesome things to do in your city, but then lie on the couch instead of doing them? That’s exactly what’ll happen this year if you don’t plan in advance. If there are restaurants you want to eat at, sights you want to see, hills you want to climb, make a list of all your at-home must-dos, and plan when and where you’ll do each of them. Tick each one off one by one, and make your break amazing.
2 Make time
Perhaps an even more elusive commodity than money these days is time. It seems as if there’s always something to do, and always someone trying to get hold of you. This December, give yourself the gift of time and do the things you’ve always wanted to. Switch off all your devices and read for hours on end in a comfy chair, go for a lazy walk on the beach, finish the painting you started three years ago – whatever fun activity you’ve been putting off, now’s the time to do it.
3 Open your own restaurant
In your dining room, your backyard, your lounge – wherever there’s room to host a group of your nearest and dearest. Set the table, lay out a picnic blanket, move back the furniture and cover the floor with cushions; whatever it takes to turn your home into a wonderfully welcoming space, complete with delicious food, good wine and great conversation. Cheers!
4 Bring the beauty spa to you
Don’t spend thousands on a day at a fancy spa; bring the relaxation to you by hiring a mobile beauty therapist. Invite your besties round, tell everyone to bring a bottle of bubbly, and unwind in style with massages, facials and mani/pedis. And if your budget won’t stretch to a professional therapist, simply whip out your own polishes and pumice stones, and give each other at-home treatments. Pure bliss!
5 Run your own movie festival
Bridget Jones, Harry Potter, The Fast and the Furious – there are plenty of film series that you can turn into a fun day (and night) out with your gal pals. Get your movies queued up, get your snacks ready and get set for a binge of epic proportions, with plenty of laughs and bonding along the way. If everything goes according to plan, you might want to do a staycation next year, too – on purpose this time!
Keen to venture out beyond our borders? Here are 10 holiday destinations that are kind to the rand.
