As debates about a global “loneliness epidemic” intensify, a quieter group of people are reporting something very different: They feel calmest, happiest, and most energized when they stay home on weekends rather than going out. Emerging research suggests that these self-described “homebodies” may offer clues about how deliberate alone time can support mental health—when it is chosen, not forced.


Psychologists and public health experts interviewed for this article say the same cultural forces that have left many people feeling isolated since the COVID-19 pandemic have also pushed others to curate smaller, more home-centered lives. While chronic loneliness is linked to higher risks of depression, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, recent studies indicate that healthy solitude can boost creativity, emotional regulation, and a sense of autonomy.


The central question, researchers say, is not whether people go out or stay in, but how freely they can choose their social rhythms—and how connected they feel to others, regardless of where they spend their time.


From Loneliness Epidemic to the Rise of the Homebody

Over the past decade, headlines have framed solitude largely as a problem. In 2018, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness a “growing health epidemic,” and in 2023 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a national advisory naming social disconnection a public health crisis on par with smoking.


The COVID‑19 pandemic intensified these concerns. Lockdowns, remote work, and school closures dramatically reduced in‑person interaction. A 2021 survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that about four in ten adults in the United States reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, up from one in ten before the pandemic.


Yet even as many people struggled, a subset reported an unexpected sense of relief. For some, the slowed pace and reduced social obligations brought better sleep, more time for hobbies, and stronger ties with close family members. In interviews and social media posts, these individuals began to embrace labels such as “homebody,” “introvert,” or “cozy maximalist,” describing home as a preferred, not merely tolerated, environment.


“We’ve treated solitude as the opposite of connection, but that’s too simple,” said Thuy-vy T. Nguyen, a psychologist at Durham University who studies time alone, in a 2021 overview for the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology (APA Monitor).

Nguyen and other researchers argue that for some people, especially those who feel overstimulated or socially drained, time at home can be a crucial source of restoration rather than a symptom of withdrawal.


A tidy living room with a comfortable chair, books, and soft lighting, illustrating a calm home environment where a homebody might relax
A quiet, familiar environment can feel restorative for people who identify as homebodies, especially after socially demanding weeks. Photo: Pexels.

What the Science Says About Healthy Solitude

Studies in social and personality psychology distinguish between loneliness—the distress of feeling disconnected—and solitude, the state of being alone, which can be experienced as positive, neutral, or negative.


A 2017 review in the journal Developmental Review found that adolescents and adults who choose to spend time alone often report greater creativity, self-reflection, and emotional regulation. The authors noted that solitude is most beneficial when:


  • It is freely chosen rather than imposed.
  • People feel they can rejoin social life when they wish.
  • They use the time for meaningful or enjoyable activities.

Neuroscience research is beginning to map why retreating to a familiar home space can feel grounding. Brain-imaging studies of “default mode network” activity—regions active during daydreaming and self-reflection—suggest that quiet, low-stimulation environments support mental processes such as autobiographical memory and future planning. A 2019 paper in Nature Human Behaviour reported that people who were comfortable being alone scored higher on measures of self-concept clarity.


“For many individuals, home is where cognitive load is lowest,” said Giulia Poerio, a psychologist at the University of Essex who studies everyday emotional experiences, in an email interview. “Reducing social and sensory demands can free up psychological resources for rest or focused tasks.”


Who Are Today’s Homebodies?

Homebodies are not a formally defined psychological category, but several overlapping groups appear frequently in current research and reporting:


  • Introverts and “ambiverts”. Introverted individuals, who tend to feel drained by extended social interaction, may prefer staying in after long workweeks. Some ambiverts—people who fall between introversion and extroversion—also describe home weekends as a way to recover from busy social periods.
  • Highly sensitive people. Those who report heightened sensitivity to noise, crowds, or conflict may experience public spaces as overstimulating. A 2018 study in Personality and Individual Differences linked sensory-processing sensitivity with a stronger preference for quiet environments.
  • People with demanding caregiving or work roles. For parents of young children, health-care workers, and others in high-contact jobs, staying home can feel like a rare chance to be “off stage.”
  • Those rebuilding social lives after the pandemic. Some people who reduced their social circles during COVID have intentionally retained smaller, more home-centered routines.

Many of these individuals reject the idea that they are hiding from the world. Instead, they describe home as a carefully chosen base that allows them to meet work and social demands more sustainably.


Homebodies and Mental Health: Risks and Rewards

Mental-health professionals caution against assuming that someone who enjoys staying in is necessarily lonely—or, conversely, that staying in is always healthy. The impact of a homebody lifestyle depends on context, motivation, and underlying mental health.


“There’s a meaningful difference between choosing not to go out and feeling unable to leave home,” said Brian Primack, a physician and behavioral scientist at the University of Oregon, in a 2022 interview about social media and well-being (JBI Evidence Synthesis). “One can be restorative; the other can signal anxiety or depression.”


Research highlights several potential benefits of a home-centered lifestyle:


  • Better emotional regulation. Studies of “self-determined solitude” show links with improved mood recovery after stressful events.
  • Improved sleep and routines. People who minimize late-night outings often report more consistent sleep schedules, which are associated with better mental health.
  • Stronger close relationships. For some, trading large social outings for home-based gatherings deepens ties with partners, family, or a few close friends.

At the same time, there are potential risks:


  • Social skills erosion. Long periods without varied social contact can make everyday interactions feel more intimidating, reinforcing avoidance.
  • Misinterpreted isolation. Loved ones may worry when someone repeatedly declines invitations, which can strain relationships.
  • Masked mental health concerns. Symptoms of depression, social anxiety, or agoraphobia can be obscured behind statements like “I just prefer to be home.”

Public-health guidance generally emphasizes staying attuned to changes. If staying home begins to coincide with persistent low mood, loss of interest in usual activities, or fear about going out, clinicians recommend seeking support.


How Culture Shapes Views of Staying In

Attitudes toward home-centered lives vary widely across cultures. In some urban Western settings, young adulthood is closely associated with nightlife, travel, and public socializing. Under these norms, people who prefer to stay home may feel pressure to minimize or conceal their preferences.


In other contexts, spending more time at home is viewed as normal or even ideal. Sociologists note that in parts of East Asia, Northern Europe, and Latin America, social life is often centered around homes and small gatherings rather than large public venues. During the pandemic, concepts such as the Danish notion of hygge—a cozy, home-centered comfort—gained international attention.


Online culture has accelerated these shifts. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, hashtags such as #homebody, #stayhome, and #cozycore showcase routines built around reading, cooking, gaming, or crafting at home. Some users say this visibility makes it easier to acknowledge their preferences without apology, while others worry it can glamorize withdrawal from offline community life.


“I used to feel guilty for not wanting to go out every weekend,” said one 29‑year‑old software engineer in Berlin, who asked not to be named to protect his privacy. “Seeing more people talk openly about liking quiet nights in made me realize it’s just a different way of recharging.”


When Staying In Helps—and When It May Hurt

Mental-health organizations suggest focusing less on how often someone goes out and more on how they feel about their social world. Experts interviewed for this article point to several signs that home-centered solitude is likely healthy:


  • You feel rested and energized after alone time at home.
  • You maintain a few close relationships and feel you can reach out when needed.
  • You sometimes choose to go out—and generally enjoy it—when an activity aligns with your interests.
  • You use time at home for meaningful or enjoyable activities, not only to “kill time.”

By contrast, solitude may be tipping into harmful isolation if:


  • You want more connection but feel unable to initiate it.
  • You frequently cancel plans due to anxiety or dread.
  • Most of your time at home is spent ruminating or feeling numb.
  • You notice significant changes in sleep, appetite, or concentration that persist for weeks.

The U.K.-based charity Mind and other mental-health organizations advise contacting a health professional or helpline if these patterns appear, especially when accompanied by thoughts of self-harm. More guidance is available from national mental-health services and organizations such as the World Health Organization’s mental health program.


Practicing Healthy Homebody Habits

For those who genuinely prefer to stay home on weekends, psychologists and wellness researchers suggest a few evidence-informed strategies to keep solitude beneficial rather than isolating.


  1. Be intentional about your time. Studies on well-being consistently link a sense of agency with better mental health. Planning a home-based weekend—such as cooking, reading, or working on a hobby—can feel more satisfying than scrolling aimlessly.
  2. Maintain a minimum level of social contact. Regular phone calls, video chats, or small home gatherings can support a sense of connection even if nights out are rare.
  3. Include movement and daylight. Physically active breaks and exposure to natural light—through a walk outside, balcony time, or open windows—are associated with improved mood and sleep quality.
  4. Watch for mood shifts. Noting how you feel before and after weekends at home can highlight patterns. If staying in consistently worsens mood, experts recommend gently increasing in‑person contact or speaking with a professional.

For many homebodies, these practices are less about changing who they are and more about protecting a lifestyle that already feels comfortable. “It’s not that I never go out,” said a 34‑year‑old nurse in Toronto, interviewed via video call. “It’s that my best recovery day is one where I don’t have to leave my apartment at all.”



Further Reading and Related Coverage


Looking Ahead: Rethinking What It Means to Stay Home

As societies continue to grapple with the health impacts of loneliness, researchers are urging a more nuanced conversation about solitude and social connection. For some, weekends at home are a sign of distress and disconnection that warrant attention and support. For others, they are a deliberate choice that helps them manage energy, protect mental health, and invest more deeply in a small circle of relationships.


The emerging consensus from psychologists, neuroscientists, and public-health experts is that what matters most is not whether someone goes out or stays in, but whether they feel they have meaningful choice and connection in their lives. In that light, the homebody who quietly skips the party may not be withdrawing from the world, but instead building a life that allows them to engage with it on their own, carefully chosen terms.