A homebody is a person who’s happiest when they’re cozied up at home, rather than going out — especially if going out involves other people. They’re often likened to hobbits: seen as cautious or unadventurous, and even assumed to be unsociable or agoraphobic by extroverted types.
In reality, they’re simply happiest when surrounded by creature comforts, with few if any demands placed on them. If you’re a homebody, then the things mentioned here will likely sound like absolute heaven on Earth to you.
1. Finding out that plans need to be cancelled.
While extroverts get severely disappointed when the plans they were looking forward to end up being cancelled, homebodies have the complete opposite experience. When they get a call or text from someone apologizing for having to cancel plans, they’ll express both regret and reassurance while simultaneously dancing around and changing into sweatpants.
One of the best Christmases I ever experienced was when the extended family all came down with Norovirus. We had some brief video chats with them from a safe distance, then ordered a ton of pizza and binge-watched the Lord of the Rings extended editions. No drama, no pretending to like the culinary atrocities served every year because of “tradition”. Just peace, comfort, and joy.
2. Piles of books and craft supplies around a comfy chair or couch.
Many homebodies create their own versions of what my partner refers to as my “dragon hoard.” I have a storage cabinet within easy reach of my favorite chair, which contains everything from knitting and sewing supplies to sketchbooks and colored pencils. There’s always a beverage and a snack on the tabletop, and a basket on the other side filled with warm socks, a pashmina, and a few books.
Those who love to spend time at home usually have a comfy spot that they’ve cultivated to perfection, with everything that brings them joy arranged around themselves. That way, they don’t have to move much to reach everything they may need.
3. Several streaming services (and a reliable Wi-Fi connection!).
Being a homebody these days is great for many reasons, but one of the most amazing ones is the ability to have all kinds of entertainment available 24/7. Do you want to watch a movie? Binge-watch an entire TV series? How about reading a book you just heard about?
With streaming services and good Wi-Fi, you can download eBooks and watch just about anything you like with the click of a button. Furthermore, since each streaming service offers different entertainment options, a textbook homebody undoubtedly subscribes to at least two, if not more. If they’re gamers, they likely have Steam and Twitch accounts as well — whatever’s needed to make their home a paradise-filled fortress of solitude.
4. The opportunity to rearrange your home.
For a homebody, rearranging spaces brings the same type of joy and fulfillment that a thrill seeker would get from jumping out of a plane. They get to arrange and decorate their space exactly how they like it, and they’ll often change up colors and textures to suit the season.
For example, they might have different quilts for various holidays, and will have the couch by the fireplace during the winter, but under the fan in summertime. They’re happiest when they can fuss and nest to get the things around them just right, whether that involves alphabetizing their sock drawer or arranging all their cutlery by size and purpose.
5. The pantry and fridge being well-stocked with favorites.
If you love to cook and enjoy meals at home — either alone or with family — then having all the ingredients you might need to prepare magic in the kitchen (without having to go shopping!) sounds like a dream come true.
The same goes for having snacks readily at hand for when you feel like rotting on the couch or in bed and don’t want to venture out into the world for sustenance. Things like canned soup, ramen, various crunchy things, and chocolate are always in the pantry, and you may even have a secret stash tucked away in a closet in case supplies run low: you always have a backup cache to draw from!
6. Abundant delivery choices.
One of the benefits of living in an urban area is the wide range of options for having essentials delivered to your door. If you’re absolutely delighted by the prospect that you can have just about anything delivered to your house without having to set foot outside of it, and take full advantage of this whenever possible, that’s textbook homebody behavior.
On any given day, at any time, you have countless choices as far as delivery goes. You can have fresh ingredients delivered so you can cook something, or cuisines from dozens of different countries prepared for you, so all you need to do is dig in. Additionally, many cities have services like Instacart, where people will shop just about anywhere for you and drop your purchases at your door. Easy peasy, with no socializing necessary.
7. Soft, cozy clothes that are comfortable and joy-inducing rather than stylish or “professional.”
PJ or yoga pants. Hoodies as soft as baby alpaca fluff. Slippers and wraps, and other clothing items that don’t pinch or confine you. A manatee kigurumi outfit that feels like you’re wearing a duvet around the house, or an outfit that makes you look like you escaped a Renn faire earlier that day.
Homebodies love to work from home for a wide range of reasons, but one of the most appealing ones is the ability to always wear clothes that are comfortable or that bring them joy, rather than looking professional or keeping up with the latest fashions. The ability to dress however you like, on your own terms, without worrying about being mocked or having HR take you aside for a chat about professionalism is paradise indeed.
8. A sanctuary full of your favorite things.
You’ve made your home into a sanctuary, and you’ve filled it with all the things that make you happiest. Maybe it’s resplendent in your favorite hues, packed with plants and books and comfy furniture, or perhaps you’ve filled it with collectible toys and memorabilia. Everywhere you look, there’s something that makes you happy. You might have taken the opportunity to decorate your place in a manner you dreamt of as a child, or in bright hues that would shock and horrify the beige-loving people in your life.
Regardless of how you’ve chosen to decorate your space, it’s a place where you can be utterly and completely yourself. If you have a partner who lives with you, then they’re contributing to the safety and joy of your abode, rather than detracting from it. You can go full goblin mode in this place without judgment, which is a rare and beautiful thing to experience.
Final thoughts…
A lot of homebodies get grief from more extroverted friends and family members, who keep trying to coax them out of the house “for their own good”, thinking that boisterous socializing will make them happy rather than draining them.
It’s important to establish boundaries in these situations. You don’t need to explain or justify yourself overmuch, but make it clear that you’re perfectly content, and they’re overstepping by trying to make you live as they do.
You are a perfect, glorious expression of the universe, so celebrate your hermitude in the ways that make you happiest.
