The Ultimate Guide to Taking a Wellness Staycation

Geri Hirsch, founder of Because I'm Addicted, is a proud California girl, born and raised in L.A. After finishing business school and feeling unfulfilled at her first job, she started blogging in 2005 as a creative outlet and has been doing it ever since. Nowadays, she loves sharing inspiration for fashion, recipes, and a lifestyle that feels good and is full of balance (think: red wine with a side of dry brushing). You can find her and her wellness-obsessed husband in L.A. traveling, listening to old records and planting in their organic garden. We're thrilled to have her on as a contributor for THE/THIRTY, where she'll be sharing her health and diet tips each month.

Wellness retreats are trending more than ever right now, as you've probably noticed from your Instagram feed. But if you don't have the time (or money) to make it to an official wellness retreat, why not re-create the experience at home? Consider this your guide to the ultimate at-home self-care day.

Get solo

The first step to ensuring your wellness staycation is actually relaxing is to get the house all to yourself. That means taking a day off work while the kids are at school or kicking your partner out for a day on the weekend (in the nicest way, of course!)—a personal day, as I like to call it. Clearing your home of any distractions—which also means turning off your cell—is key to making your at-home self-care day a success.

Eat Clean

Start off your morning with a healthy smoothie or green juice. I'm personally a smoothie kinda girl myself. Fueling your body with the nutrients it needs is always important when it comes to self-care, so this is a must. On top of that first healthy choice, I recommend eating clean throughout the day. Think lots of veggies, nuts, gluten-free grains, and a little fruit to top it off. Plus, water! Healthy eating will only amplify this wellness staycation and the way you feel.

Find light

Next up, it's time to visit Mother Nature. Getting outdoors and doing something active in the morning is not only great for your body, but it's also therapeutic for your mind. Did you know that being in nature can help stop your body from producing extra stress hormones? Such an amazing trick if you're ever feeling overwhelmed. If you're up for leaving your house, look up options for local hikes, or drive to a nearby lake or beach near the ocean. If you want to stay home, head to your yard, patio, or even close to a window if you're low on outdoor space.

Pamper

Now it's time for an at-home spa experience. Think a facial, mani-pedi, or a salt bath followed by a body scrub (or everything?!). To give yourself a facial, start by cleansing and exfoliating your skin. Then, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and turn off the heat. Take a towel, and place it over your head, while carefully lowering your face near the steam, but make sure not to get too close. After you've steamed your skin, follow with a serum and a natural moisturizer or face oil.

Namaste

Finish off your relaxing day with some yoga. Since it's calming in nature, yoga is the perfect thing to do right before bed. If you're not a pro and don't have all the poses memorized (because who does?), try following along with a YouTube video like one from Yoga With Adriene. Not a yogi? Stretching counts!

To keep the good vibes going on a regular basis, try treating yourself to a day like at least once a month—it's the best way to reset without having to go on a full-blown multiday retreat.

Next up, learn how transcendental meditation helped Hirsch cope with her PTSD.