Plan a dinner

Whether it's creating some culinary masterpiece you saw once in a cookbook, making a favorite childhood meal, or simply ordering takeout, planning your dinner is the first step to having a successful night in. By having a plan, or at least an idea, it gives your evening structure so you simply don't veg out in front of the TV all night, not eating anything. This way you can start off your night by enjoying some fantastic food that you may have not had in awhile.

Make time for relaxing

This is one of the most important aspects of a successful solo night in-especially on a weekend. I know it may seem easy to just switch on Netflix and watch the hours melt away into the early morning, but next time you're staying in, try to take some time to fully decompress from whatever stressors life has thrown your way. Draw yourself a bubble bath, mediate, attempt some yoga, or simply practice some calming exercises to help relieve some of the pent up stress. Your mind and body will most certainly thank you for detoxing some of the stress that has no doubt accumulated, making you feel more content and at ease.

Do something you enjoy

Here's the point in the night where you can do whatever it is you've been looking forward to doing that whole week. Eating a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's? Go for it. Binging your favorite Netflix show? Absolutely. Devouring a particularly good novel? Happy reading. I mean, this is your night in, so make sure you give yourself time to enjoy the things you love to do and cherish some much needed alone time.

Turn off your phone

I know this may seem unachievable-I mean these days how do any of us go five minutes without looking at our phones? But, if you're spending a night in alone, this is something you should definitely try. This way, you won't contract a bad case of FOMO as you're sitting in your sweatpants watching a Netflix crime documentary while your friends are out clubbing the night away. By disengaging from your phone it allows you to fully appreciate the night ahead of you, while simultaneously making it impossible for you to have regrets over not going out due to the pictures and videos everyone else is posting.

Make the most of it

Finally, my final tip to make sure you have a great solo night in is to simply enjoy it for what it is: some much needed time with the most important person in your life-yourself. I feel like most days we are all trying to fulfill commitments and make time for other people in our lives. Not that this isn't important, but I also think most of us forget to take time and check in with ourselves to see how we are doing-both mentally and physically. So, next time you decide to cancel on your friends and stay in for the night, don't feel regretful for giving yourself some much needed R&R.