Why is it that going out seems to be the only acceptable option when the weekend rolls around? Why can’t staying at home be more socially acceptable? Some people understand the benefits of staying at home, and others simply do not. We all have that one friend who puts the pressure on us to go out whenever we have free time. They just don’t get how staying at home could possibly be better than going out. Of course, going out can be fun sometimes, but like everything else in life, there needs to be a balance. You can’t go out all the time! Sometimes staying in is the best option. Here are 8 great reasons you can use to prove to your friends why you should stay home this weekend:
1. You Can Be 100% Yourself
You don’t have to worry about impressing anyone, or plastering a fake smile on your face. When you are at home, you can be 100% yourself without having to worry about what people think. You can wear what you want, eat what you want, do what you want and act how you want. When you go out, you are subject to conforming to what society considers “normal” which is not always very enjoyable. When you stay at home you have the freedom to just be yourself without fear of judgement.
2. Staying at Home is Free
Let’s face it – outside of the house, nothing is free anymore. You could go for a walk for free, but inevitably you and your friends will end up walking to a place where you will be tempted to spend money. Nothing is free anymore and with the rising cost of food and entertainment, who can afford to keep going out? There are plenty of free entertainment choices at home with just Netflix, YouTube, millions of smart phone apps alone. You could even make your choice of food entertaining by looking through your fridge and pantry and challenging yourself to a “Chopped” challenge.
3. Stay at Home Can Save Your Energy
When you go out, you end up using a lot of energy on smiling, keeping up with the flow of conversation, making sure you pick up on all the social cues around you, and so much more. A small amount of time spent like this will not tire you out too much, but after a while it can be exhausting to be out, even when you are with close friends. If you stay at home, you can recharge, and focus your energy on other things, like finally completing a task you’ve been putting off or working out to get in better shape. Everyone will have a long list of things they can do at home where their energy will be put to better use.
4. Avoid Wasting Time
“What do you want to do?” “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” How many times have you been caught in this type of conversation? It always revolves around going out, and it can last so long that by the time a decision is made, most places are closing for the night. You can avoid this wasted time by simply choosing to stay at home! Home never closes for the night and you already know what your options are at home.
5. You Can “Stick It” to Mainstream Media
The thought that young people are indoors too much these days and should be outside more is popular right now in mainstream media. By choosing to stay at home sometimes, you kind of “stick it” to the people telling you what to do. It’s always better to be yourself anyways than to follow the crowd. After all, who know what you like better than you do?
6. Avoid Meaningless Conversations
How many times have you been out with a group of people and found yourself stuck in a loop of meaningless conversations? Having to pretend to be interested in something that bores you makes for a long, long evening! Instead of being bored, why not take some time to stay home and communicate with yourself. This means taking the time to get to know yourself better. What makes you tick? what are your likes and dislikes? What are you passionate about? You will be able to make the right kind of friends if you really know yourself. Start getting to know who you are this weekend!
7. You Don’t Have To Worry About Anyone Else
When you go out with a group of people, you always have to think about what you say and do so that you don’t offend anyone. You also have to make sure everyone is included in the conversation. After a while, this can get tiresome, and some evenings you just don’t feel like having to worry about other people. Stay home and feel carefree instead!
8. You Have More Choices
Whenever a group of people are together, there has to be compromise. Someone has to choose what to do, and how often is that choice yours? How often do you find yourself participating in an activity you just don’t want to do? When you stay at home instead of going out, you can focus on the things that you are passionate about instead of having to do something that bores you. Follow your passions this weekend and find some new ones!
