Rest is vital to every person.  We all get to a point where we need rest.  It may be after a loved one’s long battle with a terminal illness; after a stressful period of time at work; or after a stressful period of work at home with renovations, extra projects, or moving.

For various reasons, you may not be able to travel in the near future.  You may have had a job change and therefore have no vacation time.  You may not have money set aside for a vacation.  You may not be able to travel overseas due to travel restrictions.

However, it is still possible to rest.  Rest is necessary.  I don’t know about you, but if I don’t get enough rest, I begin to be grouchy.  I made mistakes in my work that I would not have made if I were rested.  I am extremely emotional.  The list goes on and on.

If you sense that you need rest but are not sure how you can manage to rest, here are a few options for you:

1. Take a staycation.

Just because you cannot travel to another state or country, it does not mean that you cannot stay at home.  You won’t need extra money for food or lodging.  Home is where all your comforts are already.  Why not rest there?

You will save on airfare, lodging, car rental, and eating out–just to name a few things.  You will also save time on packing, stopping your mail, figuring out what to do with the food in the refrigerator, hiring a pet-sitter, and more.

2.  An extra-long weekend.

If you are not able to take a staycation, for various reasons, you can take a Friday or Monday (or both) off.   You will be amazed at what just a few extra days off work can do for your ability to rest and relax.  Be sure you are not checking your work emails and text messages for best results!

3.  If you are not able to do any of the above, take a half day at work.  

Not coming back to work after lunch can do wonders for your morale.  Ideally, do this on a Friday or the day before a holiday, if possible.

4.  Go to bed early.  

Sometimes you just need to catch up on sleep. Go to bed a couple of hours early.  Take a bath to relax your muscles and read a good book until you are ready to doze off.  Also, make sure that your phone is on silent so that late-night text messages and notifications do not keep you awake.

5.  Order your groceries online.  

Sometimes just the thought of having to get in your car and go grocery shopping can cause stress.  The last thing you want to do after working a full day is probably grocery shopping.  If you work from home, that is an extra trip to make and an extra time that you need to leave the home.

Ordering groceries online can be a quick and economical process.  We are rather picky about the taste and quality of our food but have been very pleased with ordering online the last several weeks.  It is a blessing to get organic foods for the price of conventional foods or even less.  Use my link to save $10 off your first box.  

Another benefit of ordering online is that if you become ill or extremely busy, you can still receive your groceries delivered to your door.  What a great way to reduce stress!

6.  Read a book. 

Reading has numerous benefits, including reducing your stress levels and helping you to “travel” when you cannot.  I like to listen to audiobooks while I drive and do household chores to accomplish two things at once.  Learn more about the benefits of reading here.

7.  Take a social media break. 

While social media can be a convenient way to stay in touch, it can also be the cause of unnecessary drama and stress for you.  Last week I was off social media for several days and survived to tell about it!  Seriously, if you love staying in touch with a few friends, consider texting or emailing each other to be able to stay in touch instead of chatting through social media.

How do you rest when you are unable to travel?  Please share in the comments below!