Lifestyle

Why Staying In Makes You Wealthier, Healthier And Smarter

by Suzanne McKenzie
Danil Nevsky

Let's get something out of the way: We love going out. Getting dressed to the nines, pre-gaming to old school hip hop and heading out on the town with no other plan than to get a little bit weird.

But these days, we've started to embrace the magic of staying in, especially when Thursday night rolls around. And it is indeed magical: There's nothing better than curling up on the couch, binging on our fave TV (TGIT, anyone?!), ordering delivery straight to our door and bringing the party home for a change.

And if that's not enough to convince you to indulge in a little me time on Thursday nights, there are plenty of other benefits to staying in and investing in yourself.

Here's how opting for some TGIT time will make you better off in the long run.

Self-care is basically as good as therapy.

Taking time to unwind and just do you is essential to your mental health.

And if your me time includes TGIT? Even better, because an hour of watching Meredith Grey and the crew deal with their problems is as good as any therapy session you'll ever sit through.

You'll learn valuable financial lessons.

Between our shopping addiction, affinity for takeout and lack of self-restraint, it's safe to say that our finances could use a little makeover. And what better time to start than during Thursday night me time?

Step one: Turn on TGIT. Why, you ask? Well, when you've seen Jo Wilson climb her way to the top after living in a freakin' car(!!), you'll get some serious inspiration for your own financial face-lift.

A little indulgence does the body good.

Me time is ALL about indulgence, and the good news is that indulgence isn't necessarily bad for you. In fact, we're of the belief that it's quite the opposite.

Look at it this way: Olivia Pope spoils herself with red wine and buttery popcorn — on the daily, might we add — and her body is bangin'. So, if we spend TGIT time throwing back margaritas and snacks galore, we'll have a figure like hers in no time, amiright? Right.

Hello! It's called logic.

You'll become a verified expert on so. many. subjects.

We all want to get smarter. And while anyone can enroll in a college course, hole up at the library or spend hours researching on the internet, let's be honest: We don't have that kind of time on our hands.

Why spend hours learning the old-fashioned way when you can just turn on TGIT and hear it right from the experts? You'll be schooled on the intricacies of law from Annalise Keating, receive a crash course in how to hack into pretty much anything from Huck and get a play-by-play of how the brain works from Amelia Shepherd — all without having to leave your couch!

Sounds a whole lot better than a library, doesn't it?

Tune into ABC's #TGIT lineup every Thursday, starting January 26 at 8|7c. For more information, head to abc.go.com.