Staycations: Escaping Reality From the Sofa

With the UK still being affected by the COVID-19 regulations put in place, many people’s weekend breaks away have been placed on hold for now. Although many of us enjoy embarking on a countryside weekend getaway to our favourite dog-friendly hotel in Alnwick, or a city break in the build-up to Christmas, this year we must prepare to adapt our annual traditions.

Short weekend trips away allow us to unwind from our day-to-day lives and dedicate time to ourselves for a few days. But who’s to say this can’t still happen from the comfort of your own home? When we think of weekends away, images of cosying up in front of the TV watching a movie, indulging in a book we’ve been meaning to read for a while, or relaxing in a cottage with some candles spring to mind.

Here, we discuss some of the best ways to escape reality by bringing the vacation home to you this winter.

The Magic of the Movies

Now that the dark nights are here, the thought of having to leave the warmth of our home is not a desirable one. So instead, grab a blanket, dim the lighting in your home to create a cosy aesthetic, and have a movie marathon with the family. If you’re short of ideas on what to watch, Amazon has listed the top movie picks in the UK for 2020 to give you some film inspiration.

Based on data collected between 1^st October 2019 and 30^th September 2020, it’s apparent people in the UK have a diverse interest in movie genres. The hit crime and drama production Joker confirmed its place on Amazon’s 2020 movie list. With an average monthly Google search volume of 823,000, it’s fair to say that Joaquin Phoenix did not disappoint fans in his lead role.

For those who love war movies and are looking for something new to watch, the Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes impressed the nation with his World War I epic 1917. Averaging at 450,000 monthly Google searches, this tense movie didn’t fail to impress.

On the more light-hearted side, Frozen 2 is also in the UK’s top movie selects. Averaging 368,000 online searches per month, this is the perfect family movie. Escape into the magical world of Disney from your front room.

For film fans who enjoy movies that combine both comedy and mystery, Knives Out satisfies both these genres. The movie has an old-school murder mystery theme with plenty of laughs, too. Why not become a detective for the evening and solve the mystery before your family members do? With 368,000 average monthly searches, this movie is a hit with UK viewers.

Bury Your Head in a Book

Staycations also give us the perfect opportunity to put down our digital devices and pick up a book.

Taken from Amazon UK’s list of best-selling books in 2020, Normal People confirmed its place as one of the most popular romantic fiction books. With an average monthly search volume of 368,000 between October 2019 and September 2020, this contemporary book referred to as a ‘future classic’ is a must-read.

The now-iconic vampire love story series Twilight is back with a companion novel written from the perspective of Edward Cullen—Midnight Sun. This highly anticipated sequel written by Stephenie Meyer made it into Amazon’s best-selling book list in 2020 and averaged 40,500 monthly searches.

Accounting for the same number of average monthly searches, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse tells the tale of four friends with an unshakeable bond. If you’re looking for a book that emphasises the importance of love and companionship, this is the ideal fit.

For a book that combines an element of mystery, crime, and nature together, Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing is ideal for you. Averaging 33,100 monthly searches in the date range given, this book is perfect for briefly escaping reality.

Bringing the Holiday Home to You

As well as indulging in some new movies and books, there are other ways you can bring the holiday feeling into your home.

Why not host a spa day for you and your family? Although attending an actual spa isn’t possible right now, by investing in some face masks, cucumber cuttings, and massage oils, you can transform your home into a DIY spa! For those who have a hot tub in their back garden, you’re at an advantage when it comes to adding the relaxing finishing touches to your spa day.

If you’re looking for a way to entertain the kids, make the most out of the resources you have and build a fun fort in your home. With the use of blankets, boxes, and any other resources you think would be useful, you can create the ultimate family fort.

Filling a photo album tends to be the symbol of an epic family holiday. Now that we’re spending more time at home, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the ultimate photo album. Although the pictures may not be taken in the location you ideally had in mind, capture every special moment you spend with the family.

 

With our staycation breaks away being placed on hold, remaining positive and finding some creative alternatives to keep you and the family entertained is vital. With the build-up to Christmas commencing, why not add a seasonal twist to your holiday-at-home décor too?