The idea of spring break is fun. Sometimes it’s full of 3 of some of the best B's: beaches, bathing suits and booze. Some people spend this week with as many people as they can fit in a hotel room somewhere warm. They drink from sun up to sun down - and far longer than that - walking along the beaches meeting people from colleges all over the country. Everyone works on their beach body for months in advance just to destroy it with alcohol and fast food within 7 days.

Don’t get me wrong. This spring break sounds awesome. And it is, I’ve done it. I stayed in a crappy hotel right on the water with a club attached to the other side. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I don’t think I was sober for more than an hour the entire week and my entire wardrobe consisted of only bathing suits. I only consumed easy mac except for the few times we went to fast food places and left with nothing in my bank account except for the very small amount we received back from the hotel after paying for some minor damage. I left with stories that should, and will, stay on spring break (sorry, Mom) and a tan that would last me the rest of the winter months in Michigan. Yes, this trip was fun. But it was nothing I would like to experience twice. So this year, I only sort of reluctantly made the decision to stay home. While ignoring snapchats and Instagram pictures of sun, I contemplated the perks.

• You can eat real food. When I said I only consumed cheap liquor and easy mac the entire week, I wasn’t kidding. And I know you all did or will too. Going out to eat or finding a nourishing meal isn’t exactly your first priority when you’re wandering around the beach all day with a drink in your hand and nothing to cover your food baby. While you’re at home you don’t have to pay for your food and chances are, it’ll be prepared for you.
• You can stay physically healthy. Before spring break, people that are going somewhere might have more motivation for that workout. But do you think after a night out anyone is going for a run on the beach in the morning? You can take advantage of the cleared out gym and time on your hands to have some me-time to work out and come back from break still motivated and not drained.
• You can stay mentally healthy. While they might have missed a few classes to leave early or are still suffering the hangover on the drive back the day before school you’ve had all week to catch up on school and stay focused. You could even read a book or two over break.
• Netflix. Do you know how many seasons you can finish in a week? And do you know how much better Netflix sounds than going out a lot of the time?
• Your bank account won’t hate you. You know how much your drunk self loves to spend money you don’t have – just refer to every Friday and Saturday night at the bar and after the bar looking for food since forever. Imagine how much your bank account would be hurting after this for an entire week while being bombarded with t shirts with catchy sayings, jet ski rentals, and drinking paraphernalia that they don’t have in Michigan. If you and you bank account want to stay friends, the best bet is to stay home where you might even be able to work!
• You get to spend time with your family (and your dog). It’s been a while since winter break and most of us don’t get to go home every weekend – especially if you live far away. This proves to be a great opportunity to spend some actual time with family (and your dog). Your family (and your dog) probably really appreciate your choice of coming home too. And if you have siblings still in school, you’ll have some time to yourself (and your dog) when they are in school.
• You can bond with other people that are stuck at home too. Lots of people stay home for break. Maybe your best friend won’t but you can kill boredom with someone you haven’t hung out with before from your hometown or in East Lansing. You can usually find them by looking for tweets that are a) sober, b) complaining about the weather or c) talking about how awkward it is to be home. You can enjoy some of the ice cream places or hangouts that you miss when you’re away at college.
• SLEEP. ALL THE SLEEP. No alarms. No responsibilities. No one storming into your room at 8 A.M. with a beer bong. You can sleep in your comfy home bed with no interruption except the smell of pancakes in the morning.