Want to Shift Your Energy? Take a Staycation—Even If You Work From Home

Need a break that doesn’t involve TSA check-ins, packing cubes, or a drained bank account? Welcome to the underrated magic of a staycation. Hear me out.

About six years ago, I took my first official staycation. Sure, I’d taken “days off” before, but they were usually filled with car appointments, errands, moving days, or one-day mental health breaks. A full week? That felt wildly luxurious… and honestly, a little rebellious.

At the time, I was totally stuck in “doing” mode; that anxious hum of go-go-go where even relaxing feels suspicious. The Sunday scaries were creeping into Thursdays. Rest started to feel like a reward I hadn’t earned yet. Sound familiar?

Even when I thought I was relaxing, I was mentally scanning my to-do list. What’s coming up? What am I forgetting? Should I be doing something more productive right now? My mind? Racing. My nervous system? Fried. The present moment? Nowhere in sight.

So, I did something radical: I gave myself a week. A whole, commitment-free, no-obligation container of time. One friend got a “yes” for a day of fun. Other than that? No plans. No guilt. Just me, my curiosity, and an unapologetic boundary around my time which, sidenote, came with some growing pains. Let’s just say my pendulum swung hard out of people-pleasing and into ✨IDGAF✨ mode for a hot minute. (Don’t worry, it found its way back to center.)

And honestly? I loved that week with a passion usually reserved for foreign beaches and Bermuda rum swizzles.

I woke up when my body was ready. I saw my home with new eyes, so much so that it started to feel different. I noticed which plants made me smile, realized I still hated those builder-grade light fixtures, and marveled at how the sunlight moved through my living room each day. I didn’t count down hours like I did on weekends. I wasn’t preoccupied with squeezing productivity out of my “precious” off-time. I exhaled.

I also went wandering. I explored local backroads I’d always wondered about. I sat on my patio in my bathing suit, music playing, phone in hand, not to be productive, but to follow my rabbit holes. Supplements. Conspiracy theories. Celebrity deep-dives. The price of new blinds. I followed my curiosity. I napped when I was tired, ate when I was hungry, and let my mind go soft and spacious. There were no bills to pay, chores to catch up on, or anyone needing anything from me. Just me, being with me.

By day three, I was a different person, clearer, slower, and deeply rested. Sure, I was productive at times, but it came from choice, not pressure. Something subtle but powerful had shifted: my energy had changed.

Which brings me to Dr. Joe Dispenza.

Dr. Joe teaches that when we repeat the same routine, we carry the same mindset and, ultimately, the same energy every single day. Because our thoughts shape our behaviors—and our behaviors shape our lives. Want to manifest something new? A fresh opportunity, a relationship, a creative breakthrough? You’ve gotta change the pattern. Shake up the snow globe. Open your awareness to something unfamiliar… even if it’s just noticing your house in a new light.

I’m not anti-routine. Routines are powerful. But they also rewire us for repetition—which isn’t a bad thing unless you’re longing for change. In that case, novelty isn’t a luxury—it’s a prescription.

So, if you’re calling in something new:

✨ Take the time.

✨ Break the pattern.

✨ Get curious.

There’s magic in the mundane when we let ourselves see it differently. Your manifestations don’t always need a new country, a new certification, or a new algorithm. Sometimes, they just need a new lens.

A staycation might be exactly where your next shift is waiting.

The spot where I spent my summer vacation