Let's face it - staying in is just far better than going out

Spending time indoors rather than going out can stimulate self-love and self-reliance, as opposed to relying upon other people or, in some cases, alcohol, in social situations. Learning to say no is imperative to self-sufficiency – a quality that most students struggle to develop after leaving the comforts of their school friendship groups and home environment.

The pros of staying in

Going out is often associated with peer-pressure; students feel constant pressure to fulfil the stereotypes of 'student life' and not miss out on what they deem to be opportunities. Not giving into these demands can really develop one’s independence and self-sufficiency – attributes for surviving later on in the world of work. 

Image Credit: Free-Photos on Pixabay.

Yet, staying indoors can also be an opportunity within itself, in terms of productivity and creativity. Academic-wise, it can provide time to catch up on work, such as further reading or planning for the day ahead. It could also provide the opportunity to immerse yourself in other hobbies not just related to your course, such as reading a book or playing an instrument. 

Many introverts are actively encouraged to resist their comfort zone and spend more time surrounded by people. However, more extroverted individuals are interestingly not usually encouraged to go out of theirs, by learning to spend time with themselves. In spite of stereotypes associated with introverts at university, there can still be very much a social element involved with having nights in at university accommodation. It can provide chances for those to spend time with flatmates by doing activities such as cooking or watching movies, both of which involve socialising in general. It can also enable students to contact friends or family online that live further afield, as opposed to just focusing on friends from one particular university. 

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Why do people choose to stay in? 

According to a survey by Holiday Cottages, 75% of people said that they experienced FOMO (fear of missing out) as a result of choosing to stay in. However, FOMO and peer-pressure ultimately don't overpower the desire to stay in; in the same survey, 67% admitted to feigning illness to stay in, whilst a surprising 76% have agreed to go on a night out that they knew they wouldn't be attending. 

Image Credit: kschneider2991 on Pixabay.  

Financial reasons can often be an inclination for those who choose not to spend an evening out. Holiday Cottages also found that 83% of participants deemed this to be a key reason for staying indoors. Student finance can often be difficult for some to manage, especially those who lack time to sufficiently budget or blindly succumb to social expectations and pressures without realising costs involved at the time. As such, many students work part-time jobs alongside their degrees to fund their university life. Saying 'no' to a night out will not involve money – without lofty costs, a student can save money for bigger and better events such as travelling, societies, or simply future plans. 

One of the most important factors for those avoiding going out is that it can stimulate both physical and mental health - something that alcohol and post-night-out cheesy chips can't really provide us with. For instance, it can enable one to get enough sleep, increasing energy levels and productivity for the week ahead; even one evening out can sometimes be detrimental for one’s sleeping patterns and have an ongoing impact. Having time to oneself at the end of the day can provide mindfulness, enabling one to relax and take care of themselves at their own pace and needs, responding to their own inclination and being attuned to their mind and body. 65% of those in the Holiday Cottages survey admitted to feeling JOMO (joy of missing out), something that you may experience when your rejuvenated-self sees your flatmates looking worse-for-wear the morning after! 

Spending time indoors is a mode of self-nurturing; a vital skill, crucial for students during a strenuous and ever-changing university life. 

Lead Image Credit: Free-Photos on Pixabay.