7 reasons you shouldn’t feel bad about staying inside all summer
June 20th marked the start of summer and, for some of us, the moment you began feeling bad about not wanting to leave the comfort of your cool home for the wild, hot outdoors. But despite the pressure to get out and have fun in the sun, you shouldn’t feel bad about staying inside all summer.
Listen, you had your outdoor fun in the springtime (remember Coachella?), so if you choose to stay inside and read comics all day, then that’s your business. Do you, but brace yourself for the onslaught of people telling you why it’s really bad to stay inside. It’s more than fair if the heat makes you want to lounge all day in the AC and stay there for the remainder of ever — or at least through the end of summer.
Stand your ground and remind them that going outside during the summer means working your sweat glands to the max, and you’d rather not. But don’t stop there: Lay it on as thick as the summer smog outside, because there are pah-lenty of reasons to become a homebody during the summer season.
1It feels like a furnace outdoors.
Depending on where you live, summertime temperatures can average anywhere between “Oh boy, it’s sooo hot out here,” to “Someone douse me with a bucket of ice water right now.” Either extreme means miserable conditions for even the least strenuous outdoor activities, like standing, pumping gas, or even walking short distances. With that in mind, it’s no wonder you plan to spend the entire season cocooning in the comfort of the great, cool indoors.
2You don’t want sunburn, skin cancer, or any other sun-related illnesses.
Although we are ever so grateful science knows how to fix sunburns, people who plan to remain inside during the summer don’t have to rely on it to repair damaged skin. Because avoiding the scorching sun in the first place is the more simple, less painful option.
Additionally, sunburns increase the risk of skin cancers, and spending too much time outside during the summer makes you more susceptible to other heat-induced ailments like heat stroke and exhaustion.
3SO. MANY. BUGS.
And these bugs are SO happy to be set free from the frigid winter that they come out in droves. Also, don’t forget the ones that leave you covered in itchy bite marks, or the creepy bugs that swarm that outdoor BBQ totally expecting you to share your meal with them.
4Seasonal affective disorder.
Also referred to as SAD, people who suffer from this condition experience anxiety and depression related to the change in seasons. It’s mostly associated with winter time, but a small percentage of SAD cases include those dealing with reverse seasonal affective disorder. According to Psychology Today, it’s possible that too much sunlight causes agitation in people who deal with reverse SAD. Also, the tendency to stay up late during the summer is believed to have a negative impact on their circadian rhythms, which in turn can fuel anxiety and depression.
Many of us turn to nature as a form of stress relief, but as Time reports, someone dealing with SAD during the summer would be better off decorating their place with plants or looking at photos of nature instead of venturing outside.
5Allergies.
The absolute unflattering truth about summer allergies is that they have the potential to turn you into a sneezing, swollen, watery-eyed mess.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), not only do insect stings, mold, and pollen cause allergic reactions during the summer, but fresh produce like apples, celery, and melons can also bring on allergy symptoms.
6You don’t have to dress for the weather.
Setting up shop inside during the summer means avoiding pit stains soaking through your favorite t-shirt. The only fashion decision you have to make is how long you want to stay naked.
7You’re just not the outdoorsy type.
You’re not a fan of hiking, hanging out at the beach, or any outdoor sports, and would much rather spend your time at home curled up with a good book or watching a movie. And your stance doesn’t waiver just because Mother Nature gives us a few months’ worth of warm, sunny days.
Simply not being an outdoors person is a perfectly legitimate reason to spend your summer indoors and not feel an ounce of guilt about it.
