After a long day at school or work, most people need to take their minds off the stresses in life. Many would want to lie in bed as soon as they get home, which isn’t a bad thing, as it allows rest following the pressures of the day. Even multiple studies concur that sleep is beneficial as a charger for your body. But what happens when you get bored at home? Maybe reading a book or calling a friend wasn’t as fulfilling as you originally thought. Getting out of bed can increase productivity; moving around in any way gives your brain energy to get through the day.
But what is there to do with friends? There are endless answers to that question, as different people have different ideas of fun. Even plans aren’t necessary, as Lucy Schwing explains, “Going with the flow can lead you to new exciting adventures.” Taking a night out without a schedule brings the group together; deciding where to go next amplifies the mystery. Although having plans is great as well! Lucy goes on to say, “Having a plan can be good if you want to do one big activity.” For example, organizing a few hours at a restaurant gives the group time to prepare in any way they need to. This could be helpful for some, as knowing what’s happening provides a sense of relief. Either way, hanging out with your group is a valuable gift of life.
Planning, though, is a difficult task. All the questions need to be asked: when is everyone free? What time works best for all? What places are open and fun? To make the process easier, our news group went to The Amazing Escape Room in Montgomeryville. This was such a fun experience. Solving all the ins and outs of the room brought us together. We were able to work as a team and just have fun after a week of finals. When speaking with a worker at this escape room, Maeve, she said, “The best part of the activity is the problem-solving aspect. It’s really enjoyable to go into something and figure it out.” She goes into the rooms in her free time as well, showing that it is an entertaining pastime. Not only is this fun, but it can improve mental efficiency. Maeve continues, “This activity tests your problem-solving skills. Being able to observe the room and pick up on the clues.” Having all of this said, an escape room is an awesome choice if you’re organizing a night out with friends.
Afterwards, we headed to a nearby McDonald’s to sit and eat. We were there for about an hour, and were able to have a good conversation. Later, we decided to stop at Walmart. It was entertaining to walk around a store before heading home, leading back to the excitement of a spontaneous night.
A night out doesn’t have to be extravagant; it can be as simple as sitting down with friends and just talking as the time goes on. It has been scientifically proven that being with friends reduces stress and worry. The American Sociological Association explains that friendships provide social support, companionship, and protection against mental health issues. Those without relationships are twice as likely to die early, and have greater risk factors than smoking twenty cigarettes per day, as proven by the meta-analysis of more than three hundred thousand people. Friends not only prevent stress, but they can also assist in response. From the same meta-analysis, blood pressure reactivity was found to be lower when people talk to a supportive friend. All of that said, having a night out is important to your health, even if just twice a month.
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/06/cover-story-science-friendship
