7 Ways to Take a Mental Health Vacation (Without Getting on a Plane)

7 Ways to Take a Mental Health Vacation (Without Getting on a Plane) Im a huge advocate for travel as a means to improve mental health and wellness since recently experiencing the benefits myself but I also know that bedrngnis everyone has the ability to take a week off of work and hop on a plane. Have no fear, because you can still reap the benefits of a vacation without getting on a plane, traveling outside of your state, or breaking the bank. Here are seven ways to take a local mental health vacationUnplug your devicesIf you were on a beach in Mexico would you berefreshing your Instagram feed every two minutes? Probably not. So put your phone down, and if you lack self-control (like I do) leave it in another room. Better yet, put it on airplane mode and turn off Wi-Fi so no messages or calls will come in. Goodbye, worldInstead of staring at your screen and waiting for the next message to come in, take in your surroundings, no matter where you are. As for emails, you can set an ou t of office email letting people know you will get back to them on your return date. That spreadsheet your co-worker wants from you can wait. On that noteLighten your workload beforehandTry to get as much done as possible before you head out on vacation, so you wont have to spend your free time dreading playing catch-up when you return to work. Stay organized and motivated with a to-do list, outlining your tasks a week before you leave so you have plenty of time to complete them. Procrastinating never helped anybodyIt can also help to prioritize the items on the list and number them by importance. Its definitely worth it to work a bit harder and longer before your time off so you dont have to think about it as much during your break. Plus, you wont be as swamped once youre back in the office.Explore somewhere newYou dont have to go far to see somedistributions-mix new. If youre anything like me, there are loads of places youve never explored right in your hometown or the next town over. Ask friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. Chances are, theyve been to at least a few spots that you havent even heard of Just because a new spot isnt in a faraway land doesnthaveto make it less exciting.You can go to a park that you walk by on your commute, a museum that youve written off, or the beach thats a half hour away youre always too busy to drive to. You just may find a new favorite spot, and youll be overcome with appreciation of the beauty you see.Treat YourselfWhen youre on vacation, youre more likely to spoil yourself. It could be something as simple as sleeping in an extra hour or making reservations at a nice restaurant. Order a nice dessert, because on vacation (or staycation) your diet doesnt have to control you. You can also indulge in a massage or facial.Even in your own home you cantake a bath with extra bubbles or a bath bomb. Take time to really notice the sensations that youre feeling. Appreciate the warmth and the relaxation If youre feeli ng extra groupiecy, take a glass of wine into the bath with you and throw some rose petals in there. Self-care, am I right?Get out of your comfort zoneTravel often forces us to get out of our comfort zone by putting us ina place were not familiar with so why not try something totally new You can try to learn a new language even though it may not be immediately necessary. There are plenty of apps like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone to help you with this. Yes, I know I told you to unplug earlier, but these are brain-boosting reasons to look at your phone, so you can let it slide.You can also go to a restaurant that has a type of food youve never tried. Order something on the menu thats completely out of the ordinary and new to you. If youre usually a shy introvert, strike up a conversation with a stranger at the coffee shop. You may surprise yourself and make a new friend.Indulge in your hobbiesTake this time to do some of your favorite things, or to try out new hobbies that youve always wanted to try.Groupon is a great resource to find some fun things to do on a budget. Always wanted to try skydiving? Find an indoor skydiving stimulator. Are you a fan of yoga? Why not try aerial yoga for a different experience?If you love art but havent touched a paintbrush since high school art class, attend a drink and draw class at a studio near you. You can also browseMeetup.com to connect with people with similar interests, or find events based around a hobby or interest even organize your ownTake a deep dive into cultureA big part of travel is diving into a different culture, right? Take the opportunity to explore the culture thats all around you, no matter where you are. Check out museums in your area, go see a musical at a community theatre, or listen to live music at a bar. Even though youre not in a foreign land, look around and you may be surprised at the rich local culture you can find..Reset your mind with a mental health vacationWhile society can make you feel like ta king time off of work makes you a slacker, theres way moreevidence that vacation and time off is good for you. So whether youre hitting Bora Bora or your bedroom, a break will be good for you. You deserve it, I promise. And after that mental health vacation, youll be performing better than ever when youre back at workThis article originally appeared on TalkSpace.