Why Go Out? My Love Affair with Staying In - LOH #229

I prefer being indoors. I love going out with my friends and everything, but that's a very occasional thing. If you asked me how I would want to spend a perfect day, it would definitely be indoors. I'm not much of a social butterfly. While I can be social when needed, I only occasionally feel the urge to do so. I prefer being by myself, especially at home. My home is my safe haven, the place where I feel the most comfortable.

The Comfort of Home

Due to my studies, I have often stayed away from home, living in hostels or sharing flats with friends. While I enjoy and cherish those times, true peace and comfort come when I am at home with my mom, dad, and brother. At home, I can do anything—I can wear whatever I want, wake up whenever I please, and laze around all day. It’s a place where I can truly be myself.

That said, I cannot stay indoors constantly. For example, during the 2020 pandemic, the first three months of lockdown were amazing for me—I loved being at home. But after a while, it became monotonous, and I couldn't wait to go out, meet my friends, and experience the outside world again. So, I do need a balance between staying in and going out. For me, the ideal ratio is 70:30—70% of the time at home, 30% outside.

Spending My Days Reading

When I'm at home, my favorite thing to do is read. Anyone who knows me will confidently say that I am an avid reader and a huge book nerd. I have written a few book reviews on this platform. I don’t have a designated reading spot, but I love sitting on the couch in the living room. It allows me to read while still being part of my family’s conversations.

I never sit in my room with the door closed. In my 24 years of life, I have never done that. I prefer being in the living room, where my mom or brother can come and talk to me. They usually leave me alone when they’re busy, so I still get my personal space, but I’m not completely cut off from them.

Watching TV with My Family

My second favorite indoor activity is watching television with my family. Another reason I love my couch is that it’s right in front of the TV. Growing up, it was my main source of entertainment when I was alone. Of course, I had friends and outdoor games, but back then, we didn’t have mobile phones, and computers weren’t a huge thing. TV kept me entertained for hours, and even now, it still holds that appeals for me.

While I don’t watch TV all day like I used to as a kid, I still enjoy it a lot. There is one show I particularly love watching—it feels therapeutic. I spend a lot of time watching it whenever I’m at home.

Binge-Watching Movies and Series

Apart from TV, I also enjoy watching series and movies, on Netflix or other streaming platforms. I used to be a huge binge-watcher, finishing entire seasons in a day. But now, that has reduced drastically. On a good day, I can manage 3 to 4 episodes, but most of the time, it’s just one or two, or sometimes none at all.

Still, I love watching series and movies, especially because discussing them with my friends is a lot of fun. We constantly exchange recommendations and sometimes watch together.

Whenever my brother is home, we spend a lot of time together. Since I don’t stay at home much due to my studies, I cherish our time together. He is usually at school or out with his friends, and we don’t call each other often. He’s a 13-year-old boy, after all, and calling his sister isn't on top of his to-do list.

I’m not much of a phone person either, so our real bonding happens when I’m at home. I love listening to his crazy stories about his friends and school—it’s always entertaining.

Evening Tea with Mom: A Daily Ritual

One of my favorite parts of the day is having tea with my mom. I’m not a tea or coffee person, but if I had to choose, I would pick coffee. However, tea is a big deal at my home. My mom and dad are diehard tea lovers, and every evening, my mom drinks a cup of tea.

I always join her. It’s our time to talk, gossip, and share stories—because, let’s be honest, moms always have the best gossip! We chat about her day, share interesting stories, and just enjoy each other’s company over a cup of tea.

Being indoors is where I feel most comfortable. It’s not that I dislike going out, but home is where I truly feel at ease. Whether I’m reading, watching TV, spending time with my family, or just relaxing, home is the place where I find my greatest happiness.