Lockdown blues is a term we’ve all become familiar with over the last year, and it’s something many of us have had to learn to cope with. When stuck at home, we tend to be tormented with thoughts of boredom, and the lack of anything to do is slowly driving us all insane. But it doesn’t have to be that way! We’re all yearning for a vacation, but what we haven’t realised is that we’ve been given the time for one, but we don’t necessarily have to leave the house to enjoy a vacation. Ever heard of a staycation? Well, it’s when one turns staying at home into a vacation.
We spoke to some travel influencers and lifestyle bloggers for some tips on turning this lockdown into a staycation. Here’s what they had to say.
Keep it simple: Zainab Faizal
Staying home is such a treat, especially when you’re constantly working. But it doesn’t help the case when it’s a work from home situation. However, I love to finish all the chores and work early, have a nice long bath, stream some good horror films on Netflix, get lunch sorted, have some ice cream, and then do some adult colouring while blasting some Olivia Rodrigo LOUD and then probably order pizza, get on a conference call with the homies, and just have a good laugh. It’s all about keeping it simple, just relaxing, and having a great time! I don’t like to stress too much on this, because lockdowns are temporary, but they can be dragged on for a while.
IG: @queen_bae_1926
A busy lifestyle is not an excuse anymore: Sandaruwani Lakdeepanie
Our lives have been forever changed by the coronavirus pandemic. Many of us are already feeling nostalgic for our lives before the virus went global. I feel like a part of me is lost without the fresh breeze of a mountainside, or the warmth of the beach. It is increasingly hard to feel like being at home is a relaxing escape, because so often now home is work, and home is a restaurant, and home is school. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some time off and relax. There are still ways to give yourself a break at home.
Books exercise the brain, build our vocabularies, lowers stress, and also enhances the imagination. Buy yourself some books and start reading whatever you’ve been putting off. You may choose to watch a documentary series on Netflix which you have never taken an interest in before, which is great. There are many factual programmes you can get sucked into during quarantine.
Learn a new skill. This could be learning the rules of a game or how to play an instrument, or even painting on canvas, doodling on a sketchpad, or drawing in adult colouring books or anything at all that takes time to get to grips with. Make a themed movie night dinner with your family or have an indoor picnic. Light some candles, put on a YouTube video featuring serene bird sound effects or some country music, and pour a glass of wine or a cup of tea or chill a refreshing beverage. Eat on a blanket on the floor. How long have we all been looking to set up a workout routine? You actually don’t even need such gym equipment and accessories if you follow some of the workout videos available on YouTube.
Your busy lifestyle usually means that things in the garden do not get done, but now you don’t have that excuse. Go one step further and start a DIY project. I hope that everything will be alright soon, and we will be able to once again roam out and enjoy the beauty of our world. Stay safe and healthy everyone!
IG: @life_of_a_travel_girl
You can unwind anywhere as long as there are things to do: Bushra Uwais
For me, vacations are about disconnecting myself from the daily routines to keep my sanity intact. That does not mean I have to stay at a luxury hotel in a faraway town. I can unwind anywhere as long as the things I do and see are different from what I do and see on a daily basis. With the Covid spread, I have found ways to go on vacations simply staying at home, and there is a term for it: Staycation. I’d fix a day or two, make sure everyone at home is out of all work commitments on those days, and plan out the activities to be done in those days as I would for a vacation, like what to eat, what movies to watch, and what games to play or to even have a picnic on the terrace. I would rearrange the whole house to get a different vibe. And that is how I switch to staycation mode during a lockdown.
IG: @withlovebushra
Use this time to love yourself: Luxsan Tharmarajah
Loving yourself is important, especially finding happiness and things that you like to do. With the busy lifestyle I had, the lockdown has actually helped me overcome the mayhems of a lifestyle that was cluttering and making me ill. One of the major things I discovered is to relax and take some time to meditate. I have gained so much patience in the way I react to situations these days. I think pampering yourself is one of the key medicines that you need to have a balanced life. Another thing I learnt about myself is the creative side. I used to hoard so many containers from takeaways and I used them to grow different plants now. Gardening is another thing that really calms me down and through that, I have started my own business of selling cactus that I grow on my own. The main point of turning this lockdown into something positive is to find what you love and what makes you happy and fill yourself with productive activities.
IG: @lifeofluxsan
Create a cosy space: Thareesha Feronika
We are still in a global pandemic, and trips and outings are less likely to happen, but you can still turn this stay at home into a staycation. Netflix has already been our lifesaver to ward off the boredom throughout the pandemic. In order to spice things up, we thought of creating a movie setup at home. First, we choose a few movies to binge-watch. We created a soft cosy space using pillows and blankets and used scented candles, rose petals, and fairy lights to keep it dark and intimate. We ordered our favourite food to nibble on while watching the movies. We totally loved it. You should give it a shot too and don't forget to pick a wine of your preference to set the mood.
IG: @traveldrops_wanderlust
Staying home is such a treat, especially when you’re constantly working. But it doesn’t help the case when it’s a work from home situation. However, I love to finish all the chores and work early, have a nice long bath, stream some good horror films on Netflix, get lunch sorted, have some ice cream, and then do some adult colouring while blasting some Olivia Rodrigo LOUD and then probably order pizza, get on a conference call with the homies, and just have a good laugh. It’s all about keeping it simple, just relaxing, and having a great time! I don’t like to stress too much on this, because lockdowns are temporary, but they can be dragged on for a while.
IG: @queen_bae_1926
A busy lifestyle is not an excuse anymore: Sandaruwani Lakdeepanie
Our lives have been forever changed by the coronavirus pandemic. Many of us are already feeling nostalgic for our lives before the virus went global. I feel like a part of me is lost without the fresh breeze of a mountainside, or the warmth of the beach. It is increasingly hard to feel like being at home is a relaxing escape, because so often now home is work, and home is a restaurant, and home is school. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some time off and relax. There are still ways to give yourself a break at home.
Books exercise the brain, build our vocabularies, lowers stress, and also enhances the imagination. Buy yourself some books and start reading whatever you’ve been putting off. You may choose to watch a documentary series on Netflix which you have never taken an interest in before, which is great. There are many factual programmes you can get sucked into during quarantine.
Learn a new skill. This could be learning the rules of a game or how to play an instrument, or even painting on canvas, doodling on a sketchpad, or drawing in adult colouring books or anything at all that takes time to get to grips with. Make a themed movie night dinner with your family or have an indoor picnic. Light some candles, put on a YouTube video featuring serene bird sound effects or some country music, and pour a glass of wine or a cup of tea or chill a refreshing beverage. Eat on a blanket on the floor. How long have we all been looking to set up a workout routine? You actually don’t even need such gym equipment and accessories if you follow some of the workout videos available on YouTube.
Your busy lifestyle usually means that things in the garden do not get done, but now you don’t have that excuse. Go one step further and start a DIY project. I hope that everything will be alright soon, and we will be able to once again roam out and enjoy the beauty of our world. Stay safe and healthy everyone!
IG: @life_of_a_travel_girl
You can unwind anywhere as long as there are things to do: Bushra Uwais
For me, vacations are about disconnecting myself from the daily routines to keep my sanity intact. That does not mean I have to stay at a luxury hotel in a faraway town. I can unwind anywhere as long as the things I do and see are different from what I do and see on a daily basis. With the Covid spread, I have found ways to go on vacations simply staying at home, and there is a term for it: Staycation. I’d fix a day or two, make sure everyone at home is out of all work commitments on those days, and plan out the activities to be done in those days as I would for a vacation, like what to eat, what movies to watch, and what games to play or to even have a picnic on the terrace. I would rearrange the whole house to get a different vibe. And that is how I switch to staycation mode during a lockdown.
IG: @withlovebushra
Use this time to love yourself: Luxsan Tharmarajah
Loving yourself is important, especially finding happiness and things that you like to do. With the busy lifestyle I had, the lockdown has actually helped me overcome the mayhems of a lifestyle that was cluttering and making me ill. One of the major things I discovered is to relax and take some time to meditate. I have gained so much patience in the way I react to situations these days. I think pampering yourself is one of the key medicines that you need to have a balanced life. Another thing I learnt about myself is the creative side. I used to hoard so many containers from takeaways and I used them to grow different plants now. Gardening is another thing that really calms me down and through that, I have started my own business of selling cactus that I grow on my own. The main point of turning this lockdown into something positive is to find what you love and what makes you happy and fill yourself with productive activities.
IG: @lifeofluxsan
Create a cosy space: Thareesha Feronika
We are still in a global pandemic, and trips and outings are less likely to happen, but you can still turn this stay at home into a staycation. Netflix has already been our lifesaver to ward off the boredom throughout the pandemic. In order to spice things up, we thought of creating a movie setup at home. First, we choose a few movies to binge-watch. We created a soft cosy space using pillows and blankets and used scented candles, rose petals, and fairy lights to keep it dark and intimate. We ordered our favourite food to nibble on while watching the movies. We totally loved it. You should give it a shot too and don't forget to pick a wine of your preference to set the mood.
IG: @traveldrops_wanderlust