When you're a homebody, the challenges you face in this world are abundant. While changes have happened that cater to our needs more than they did before (thank you, Netflix), we're still pretty far from having it easy and being able to fully embrace our ways. Our happy place is within the confines of our own home, cuddled up next to a pet or a pillow and equipped with our laptop and television, far from the depths of socialization and interaction.
The problem is there are a ton of things that require you to leave the house for: need food? Got to go to the grocery store. School? Gotta go to class. It's not that homebodies don't enjoy social interaction and being around people (such as their family and friends), we just don't like being around people all the time. Life can get a bit tough because of this, especially when you're surrounded by extroverted, active people. Here are a few struggles that homebodies are regularly faced with in this loud, crazy world.
1. Having to explain to everyone that you really do enjoy doing nothing
Sometimes, just getting lost in your own imagination (which homebodies are delightfully imaginative) is fun. But it's always awkward to explain it to someone who asks you what you're up to — how do you explain that there's a fun kind of nothing?
2. Having to make the perfect excuses to cancel your plans
While saying "no" to a plan is ideal, you don't want to be that mean to your friends. But it eventually gets to the point where "I'm not feeling that good" is a little overused and your friends are beginning to catch on to your schemes.
3. This is your idea of heaven
A season of "Friends," delivery food and your favorite pet — how does that not sound appealing?
4. The irrational fear of having a lonely future because you never leave your room
There's that commonly shared fear that you'll never meet the person you're going to marry because you're not looking in the right places... but what if you never leave your bed? Cue the jokes of "crazy cat/dog lady!"
5. Looking forward to going home when you're out
There's only so much you can take of the outside world, and when you reach that point, you're excited to get back into the safe confines of your home and the comfiness that is your bed!
6. Realizing that not everything is available to order on Amazon Prime
It's actually pretty depressing when you can't find something you want on Amazon. It makes you question the meaning of life because if Amazon doesn't have it, then what's wrong with the world?
7. Being dragged out of the house for a "fun time"
When you're all settled down after a long day of binge-watching Netflix, you've queued up the next episode of "New Girl" and just finished making food (or getting it from the delivery person), your friend texts you "want to go out?" Your whole world shatters. And when they actually force you to go out... that's the worst.
8. When you're out, you reach this point eventually
When you leave your house, you may just be excited to get the first few moments out in the sun on your skin for a bit after a few days, and you may even be excited to socialize with someone you just met. But then there's the peak of your excitement that comes quickly, and after that... you don't really care anymore and the only thing on your mind is going home.
9. You leave parties early
You probably go for the free food and to make your friends happy, but you're always the person to ditch the party after an hour... or half-hour, because it's just not your type of scene.
10. Realizing just how lame you are
Homebodies have that shared feeling of FOMO, where you're scrolling through your social network feed and seeing pictures and tweets of your friends talking about how excited they were to hang out with this person, or go to this place... and it just makes you realize, in all of your sweatpants, crumbs-all-over-the-place glory, that you're a little lame.
But then you remember all the socializing and effort that it takes to reach that point, so you're comfortable with where you are!
11. When people argue with you for being a shut-in
... And you defend yourself with passion.
12. Balancing all of your hobbies
Doing nothing, watching Netflix, eating food, browsing Tumblr... that's a lot of work.
13. Being called the "anti-social" or "quiet" friend
This is probably one of the biggest pet peeves of every homebody. We may be the quiet friend of the group or the person that doesn't like to go out much, but there's no need to put such a negative label on us, thank you very much.
14. You're fine staying at home all weekend
"What did you do on your friday night?" "Oh, just sat in ... caught up on 'Breaking Bad.'"
15. Your snooze button = BFF
Waking up early isn't in your vocabulary. Now staying up until the late depths of the morning is, so it's no surprise when you find yourself sleeping in until noon every day. When you just have to wake up early, that's when the snooze button comes in. Just five more minutes, please.
16. Your local delivery person knows who you are
There comes a time where you've ordered from Papa John's or Jimmy John's just way too often and around the same time, so you and the delivery person are pretty familiar with each other. Messy hair and sweatpants each time you answer the door, and a shuffled, awkward conversation as you pay. Either way, there's some sort of mutual bond between you do: the eater and food-bringer.
17. Having to put on clothes
Sweatpants and lounge clothes are a gift from the heavens, so when you're able to wear them all day, it's amazing. But the time comes every so often when you're required to put on clothes and not look like you've just rolled out of bed, unfortunately.
18. Certain (very helpful) things haven't been invented yet
A better app that delivers all sorts of groceries to your doorstep? Not very many good ones exist yet, and the ones that do only deliver to like ... two cities. Having Netflix not ask you if you're still watching something after three episodes? That would be perfect. Unfortunately, a world that amazing doesn't exist yet ... but hopefully, someday, it will. Then, the homebodies of the world would be able to distantly unite and live perfect lives.
