Contents
It is easy to compensate for the inability to go on vacation this winter by giving yourself a wonderful vacation at home. See new places, try exotic cuisine, learn a few phrases in a foreign language and even get a souvenir – all this without leaving your apartment? Fantasy and digital technologies to help us!
We are used to waiting for the New Year holidays as an additional vacation, many of them planned trips for these days – to visit relatives, to warm countries or, conversely, to snow, skiing, just taking a walk, and rightly so.
Rest is essential for mental and physical health. For example, it is known that if a man at risk of a heart attack does not go on vacation every year, the risk that the attack will end in death increases by 32% (compared to patients who take annual holidays).
Women who rarely go on vacation (once every 6 years or less) are 8 times more likely than others to develop heart disease. In addition, regular long vacations have a greater impact on overall well-being than the amount of money we earn.
Yes, now many of us are working from home, without spending time and energy on the road and communicating with others, but does this mean that we are on vacation? Hardly. We still need everything that a vacation gave in “peacetime”: the opportunity to take a break from the routine, escape, switch, relax and get new experiences.
What to do if the pandemic has restricted movement?
- First, enjoy the benefits of a home vacation (in English there is a special word for it – staycation). Just think: no stress at the airport, no jet lag, no queues at the Mona Lisa and fights for sunbeds.
- Secondly, to understand: in order to reboot, it is not necessary to fly to the other side of the world, it is enough just to disconnect from social networks and work mail. But what about the impressions that get to know a new country?
Here are some ideas on how to get them without leaving your home.
In principle, many people do this when preparing for a trip: they read books and watch movies that set them in the right mood. You should not refuse this, even if the trip is not yet destined to take place. Take a break from your travels to prepare the ground.
Do not limit yourself to world-famous movie hits and books written for tourists, look for authors who were born or lived for a long time in the country you are interested in, which means they really feel its spirit and can convey the atmosphere.
2. Expand your musical horizons
Music is perhaps one of the most accessible and effective “vehicles”: the flamenco rhythm will easily take you to sunny Spain, and the songs of Sigur Rós – to mysterious Iceland. By turning on reggae, you can easily spend a Saturday morning on a Caribbean beach. Create a playlist of songs related to the country you want to go to, or find a ready-made selection on one of the music platforms.
3. Treat yourself to a suitable aperitif
A poolside cocktail, chilled juices, a glass of wine with dinner – on vacation, we can usually afford something for which there is no place in the harsh everyday life. It’s time to change that! Read on the Internet about drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, popular in a particular country, and prepare one of them on the weekend or in the evening.
4. Go on a culinary adventure
Most bring new culinary experiences from their trips: the taste of real Italian pizza from Naples, the spiciness of Thai Tom Yam and the spice of Spanish paella. So, having prepared them at home, you can be transported back to their homeland.
Recipes for most dishes can be found on the Internet, and ingredients can be found in online stores. By the way, it is not necessary to choose something exotic: you can cook or buy something that evokes pleasant associations – for example, with a family trip to the coast.
5. Play a new game
Please your inner child and traveler, play the game that this or that country is famous for: Chinese mahjong or French petanque.
6. Visit the museum virtually
Perhaps museums and exhibition spaces are open in your city. But, firstly, the situation can change at any moment, and secondly, it can be scary for someone to get out into crowded places.
But if there’s one thing you can “thank” the pandemic for, it’s the transfer of museum collections online. You can get acquainted with the masterpieces of world art, for example, within the framework of the Google’s Arts and Culture project. Of course, this is far from the same as looking at a painting or a sculpture live, but, on the other hand, you can cover several places at once in an evening.
6. Go to nature (virtually)
What to do if there is no way to go to the outside world? That’s right, bring the outside world to your home. Websites of national parks and reserves, Google Maps and YouTube videos can help you.
7. Learn a new language
Perhaps you have friends who, going on vacation to a new country, try to learn at least a few words in the local language. To some, this may seem like a waste of time, but in fact, it allows you to establish a connection with a new place in advance, to feel its originality.
Saying “bonjour” or “ciao” is like opening a window into a new world. If a country has been on your mind for a long time, take a moment and learn its language at least at a basic level. Smartphone apps to help you.
8. Buy yourself a souvenir
For many, the choice of memorable gifts is an integral part of the vacation, and souvenir shops and flea markets are a must on the tourist route. But who said that gifts should be bought at the beginning of the trip, and not before it, even at the planning stage? Order yourself a puzzle (normal or 3D) with the attraction you want to see, so that when you have the opportunity, compare the layout with the real place.