Summer is ordinarily a time full of travel and excitement and exploring new places. That isn’t quite the case right now, but that does not mean you shouldn’t invest in some quality time away from work and the daily grind. A staycation – that is, a vacation spent at home – can be a delightful way to relax, refresh, and enjoy the company of your loved ones. Here are some tips on how you can prep your home in advance to ensure that your staycation is as restful, fun, and memorable as traveling.

Get in the right mindset.

This first tip is not quite related to your home – but adjusting your mindset to “Staycation” mode will help you take advantage of your time off. Really give yourself permission to disconnect from work. Unless absolutely necessary, try not to spend the entire time running errands or catching up on those lingering home projects. You can save them for another day! It won’t feel like a vacation if you spend your whole time ticking off a to do list – and you’ll go to work feeling just as exhausted as you were before.

Elevate your space.

Think about what makes you feel most relaxed when you go on vacation and bring that vibe into your own home. Love the outdoors? Put flowers everywhere. Love spas? Pick up some delicious-smelling bath salts and oils, invest in the perfect bathrobe or pajamas, and put most luxurious bedsheets (see my article Making the Perfect Bed for some suggestions). Add some lavender, rose, or bergamot to an essential oil diffuser to indulge in calming aromatherapy.

Stock up the kitchen.

Go shopping for all of your favorite foods. Is there a recipe you have been wanting to try, but never seem to find the time? Grab the ingredients you need and get cooking! Keeping a few special snacks – fresh fruit, dark chocolate, a fancy charcuterie board – will get you in the vacation mood. If you would rather take the time off from cooking, check and see if your favorite local restaurants offer meal kits, curbside pick-up, or delivery!

Look to the great outdoors.

With so many activities happening in our homes these days, many of us are looking for a little bit of extra space. Luckily, with warm days approaching, many of us can turn our outdoor space into extra living space. As you contemplate ways to improve your outdoor area, think about projects that can both extend the hours you spend outside and make the time you spend there more relaxing. Read my recent article Creating a Backyard Retreat for more ideas.

Plan ahead.

Check out in advance what your nearby area has to offer – a quick “best kept secrets” Google search can turn up something new even if you’ve lived in the same place for your entire life. There is always something new to discover. Maye you wish you could go camping – why not set up a tent in the living room or in the backyard? Don’t get caught unsure what you should do – even if you just want to snuggle up with that brand-new book you’ve been wanting to read forever.

One of the best perks of a staycation is avoiding all of those travel woes – TSA lines, hours spent commuting from one place to another, stressed people all trying to do the same thing. In your own home, elevated to relaxing perfection, you can really settle in and take a deep breath. All you need to do is a bit of prep and thinking ahead to make your home into a special, rejuvenating place to kick up your feet.