11 Relaxing Staycation Ideas for a Chilly Fall Weekend

Hi, lovelies! 💛I hope you’re having a great Saturday! It’s been pretty cool these past few days in Chicago. Today, the skies are grey and cloudy, but I’m enjoying this brisk fall weather. My bf and I have been talking about planning a weekend getaway soon. It got me thinking…in the meantime, what about coming up with some cozy staycation ideas?

Sometimes life can get overwhelming. Maybe you’re stressing over that paper for school, are juggling various projects at work, have a lot of errands that need to get done ASAP, etc. Personally, I work at a call center and after a long day, it’s nice coming home to a quiet and comfy space.

Autumn already makes for such a comforting atmosphere. Perhaps it’s the colorful leaves, crisp air, fun Halloween decor, yummy recipes, or this  feeling of warmth and happiness. Who knows!

Either way, a relaxing staycation is definitely a must during this cozy time of the year. No fancy getaway needed!

11 Relaxing Staycation Ideas

1. Set the scene–declutter your place, light a scented candle, and hang up decorative string lights.

Spending a weekend at home can actually get quite stressful if your place is untidy. Vacuum, make your bed, fold clothes, wash your sheets, organize the mail, etc.

Create a peaceful setting by lighting a cinnamon-pumpkin scented candle or hanging decorative string lights. Your home will look better than any five star hotel…and also be a lot cozier.

2. Make a pillow fort and watch your fave Netflix show.

Remember when you were a kid and made forts out of blankets and pillows? Who says you can’t make an awesome pillow fort as an adult! While you’re at it…why not have a Netflix night? Y’all, Netflix is currently streaming some amazing movies, tv-series, and originals.

Alejandro and I have been binge-watching The Haunting of Hill House and we absolutely love the series. If you’re in a spooky, Halloween-y mood, it’s the perfect series! We also really enjoyed Stranger Things, Maniac, Veronica, and are curious about The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

If you’re not a fan of scary movies, they have other fantastic shows/movies like To All The Boys I Loved Before, The Office, Disney films, and so many more.

For more staycation movie ideas, here is a list of top Netflix series and one for best movies out right now.

3. Stay in your PJ’s or sweats all day long!

I mean, it’s Saturday…you deserve to hang out in your PJ’s all day long! Chill weekends are a necessity sometimes, especially after busy periods. During your staycation, you want to feel relaxed. Find your comfiest pajamas (or sweats) and enjoy a laid back day inside! Fuzzy slippers are also a must!

4. Warm up with a delicious cup of hot chocolate…don’t forget the marshmallows!

Whenever the seasons change and it starts to get colder, a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or apple cider is such a nice little treat. The other day, I was looking up new hot beverage ideas for fall, and stumbled upon this slow cooker peppermint hot chocolate recipe.

It sounds like a great drink for autumn, winter, or any chilly day. The article also features 9 other hot autumn themed beverages! YUM!

5. Treat yourself to an at-home spa day!

Turn your bathroom into a day spa and pamper yourself with a bubble bath, some exfoliating scrub, and a facial. Give yourself a cute manicure and choose some autumn themed colors like burgundy, black, gold, orange, purple, and mustard.

As y’all know, I’ve been enjoying Bath and Body’s Aromatherapy line–especially their Love and Stress Relief varieties. Apparently, the Aromatherapy line also includes pillow mist products in various scents and I’m so curious to try them out!

6. Cozy up with a throw blanket and that new book you can’t put down.

Nothing says “cozy fall day at home” quite like a throw blanket and reading. During autumn, I personally have a soft spot for mystery and romance novels. At the moment, I’m trying to find new books to add to my reading list.

What books do y’all recommend? Do you have any favorites at the moment?

A few of my reading faves:

Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

7. Find a yummy slow cooker soup recipe online. 

Imagine this…you walk into your kitchen and smell the aroma of a hearty stew or butternut squash soup. Slow cookers are awesome because you don’t usually have to spend much time prepping. Plus, slow cooker soup recipes are super tasty! Yay for stress-free staycation dinners!

Fall Slow Cooker Soups and Recipes, via Delish.com:

Easy Crock-Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Crock-Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Soup

8. Listen to a fall playlist.

A staycation isn’t complete without a calming fall playlist. I’ve got you covered! Here are some songs perfect for a day at home, autumn edition. 💛🍁

9. Bake some pumpkin bread, or any other comforting recipe.

Baking is a lot of fun in the fall and winter for some reason1 Maybe it’s because of the colder weather. There’s just something so cozy about the scent of a pumpkin cake or apple pie baking in the oven!

Dessert Ideas for your staycation:

25 Best Fall Desserts, via Taste of Home

10. Catch up on some sleep with a midday nap.

Getting enough rest is extremely important, but it can be a difficult task sometimes. According to helpguide.org, adults should generally be sleeping between 7-9 hours. When it comes to naps, a 20 minute nap is ideal.

If you’re feeling tired, use your staycation to catch up on rest. You’ll feel so much more refreshed after a midday nap!

11. Start a project that makes you happy!

Lastly, consider starting a project that makes you smile. Maybe it’s painting, finishing a puzzle, drawing, journaling, playing a song on your guitar…the list goes on! Personally, I had my day off work yesterday (and it’s a longer weekend for me) so I’ve been practicing my singing.

A staycation is a great time to focus on things that bring you peace and joy!

I hope you enjoyed this post, lovelies! Have an amazing and restful weekend! 💓x

What are some of your staycation ideas & must haves? Also, do you prefer staycations or weekend getaways?

Grab an iced coffee & stay a while! 

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