It’s (insert any day of the week) night. The music is blasting in various apartment numbers throughout my building. 203? House. 304? Pop. 403? Country. 308? Rap. The point is, everyone is going out. My roommates are starting to get ready. There’s water running, which means they'll soon smell like normal human beings. Meanwhile, the distinct smell of Vlad is drifting unwelcomingly close to my nostrils. I can feel last night’s decisions and tomorrow’s responsibilities, along with a distinct jaw-clenching nausea, starting to sink in.

As I reflect on the harsh realities of my predicament, I can’t help but grimace at the judgmental reactions I know I’m bound to receive when I tell my friends that I don’t intend on going out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful I have the kind of friends who often judge me for the shots I don’t take rather than the ones I do (even though those tend to get me in the most trouble). They’re the same friends who make the funniest jokes, have the best dance moves, and live life to the fullest.

Nonetheless, with friends like these, it becomes hard to turn down a night out when—frankly—I need some time off. So, dearest friends, the ones who will most likely laugh at me for the sheer embarrassment of sharing an article that would ever suggest turning down, here is a solid list of why I’m not going out tonight (and that’s okay):

We’re going to the exact same place we frequent every night.

Hey, if you want to recommend somewhere new and different where the employees don’t know my name and order, I will pull myself out of my funk, throw on some going out clothes, and get funky with you.

We’re going with the exact same people.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Lauren and Johnny, but I see them every day. Is it so wrong that I want some time with Dwight, Michael, Pam, and Jim? Come on, no one makes me laugh like they do.

I need a change of pace.

If you let me have this one night of peace—a night of cuddling under the covers and eating large quantities of food—I guarantee you that tomorrow night, or whenever we choose to go out next, I’ll be ten times more entertaining than I would be tonight.

Speaking of a change in pace…

Mindless fun is fantastic. It allows me to release my inhibitions and rid myself of unwanted stress. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is go out and spend time with you. However, it’s been awhile since I’ve read an actual book or watched a riveting documentary, and I think I’m going to do one or both of those things tonight. But hey, next time I see you, we’ll have something new to talk about.

I need to catch up.

You have superhuman-like abilities to go out whenever you want and somehow still get all of your work done. That is truly an accomplishment, and a talent I wish I had been gifted. Unfortunately for me, sometimes I need more of a balance in order to keep the various aspects of my life at the desired level. This I will promise you: when I finish my project, I will be READY.

Company is coming.

Unfortunately, I have to clean this train wreck of an apartment. Tomorrow night, however, I will be bringing our very important guest along for the ride.

I’m sick.

The more I rest, the sooner I’ll get better. Plus, do you really want me infecting half of our friends?

I want to eat.

Dear, dear friend of mine. We have eaten McDonald’s. We have eaten Chick fil A. We have eaten pizza, pasta, fries, and questionable leftovers from the refrigerator. Tonight, I am treating myself to a nutritious and delicious dinner, and am following it up with a never-ending nap. My stomach will thank me.

I’m broke.

If you want to take care of the various costs associated with going out (i.e. outfit, beverages, Uber, cover charge, miscellaneous food at 2 a.m., etc.), tell me where we’re going. Regardless, I’m in there like swimwear.

I still love you.

Please don’t take my going out to mean that I don’t love you or love every second I get to spend time with you. You’re the most fun person I know, and even that is an understatement. If you want to make my night, stay in with me. We can still have a good time, even if that means putting on a movie we’ve seen one hundred times or laughing for hours about old memories.

The fact of the matter is that regardless of my particular reasoning, sometimes I just don’t want to go out. I don’t plan on making a habit out of this, because frankly I would worry about missing out too much. Nonetheless, I don’t see anything wrong with wanting a night to myself, or wanting a night in with a few of my friends. I like to dance and let loose, but I also like to take hour-long showers, and read or journal. I like time to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee, or have a conversation with someone that doesn’t involve what I did last night, where I’m working, or how cute my outfit is.

Being around large groups of people and socializing is an important aspect of life. It’s something everyone should be sure to integrate in his or her life, because it’s good for the soul. However, I would be thrilled if I could choose to stay in for a random night or two without having to worry about being chastised for being “no fun” or a “buzz kill.” I’m not stopping you from going out or judging you for your lifestyle, so please don’t judge me for mine.