to those who stay at home a lot.

Summary

The speaker reflects on their past as a recluse, rarely venturing outside during middle and high school, preferring to stay indoors playing video games. They discuss the detrimental effects of this isolation on their mood and perception of time, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The realization of the importance of social interaction and stepping outside their comfort zone came later in college. They emphasize the positive impact of being around others and the need to break routines to improve mental health, make memories, and feel more productive. The speaker encourages others to step outside and engage with the world to avoid the pitfalls of prolonged isolation.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The speaker used to be a homebody, rarely going outside during middle and high school, preferring to stay indoors and play video games.
• 📚 The speaker's parents would try to encourage them to go out and do activities, but the speaker consistently declined.
• 😷 During the pandemic, the speaker's behavior didn't change much, still spending the majority of their time indoors and only going out occasionally.
• 🎮 The speaker's daily routine during the pandemic involved minimal schoolwork and a lot of time spent on YouTube and video games.
• ⏳ The speaker noticed that time seemed to pass very quickly when they were mostly indoors, with two years feeling like a week.
• 🕊️ The speaker found that going outside and being around people made them feel better and more productive.
• 🧠 There is a biological aspect to feeling better when around others, as humans are social creatures and being alone can trigger feelings of danger and stress.
• 🌱 The speaker realized the importance of going outside and interacting with others in college, where they started to look forward to attending school.
• 🔑 The speaker suggests that going outside and being around people can lead to a better mood, more productivity, and a slower perception of time.
• 🚴 The speaker encourages others to break out of their routines and spend time outside, even if it's just for simple activities like going to a cafe.

Q & A

What was the speaker's behavior during middle school and high school?

The speaker rarely went outside unless it was for school. They preferred to stay indoors, playing video games and avoiding outdoor activities even when offered by their parents.

How did the speaker's parents respond to their refusal to go outside?

The speaker's parents eventually stopped asking them to go outside as they knew the consistent response would be refusal.

How did the speaker's lifestyle change during the COVID-19 pandemic?

During the pandemic, the speaker's lifestyle didn't change significantly. They continued to stay indoors, only going outside occasionally to hang out with friends.

What was the speaker's daily routine during the pandemic?

The speaker spent most of their day indoors, waking up, watching YouTube, doing minimal homework, and playing video games for the rest of the day.

How did the speaker feel about their time during the pandemic?

The speaker felt that time passed very quickly during the pandemic, with two years feeling like a week due to the monotony of their daily routine.

What positive change did the speaker experience during the pandemic?

The speaker managed to lose weight during the pandemic, which they considered a positive outcome despite the lack of other meaningful activities.

How has the speaker's attitude towards school changed from high school to college?

The speaker used to despise school in high school, but in college, they started to look forward to going to school and enjoying the social environment.

What realization did the speaker have about the importance of social interaction?

The speaker realized that being around other people is crucial for mental well-being, as it triggers positive biological responses and helps avoid feelings of loneliness.

What advice does the speaker give to those who tend to stay at home a lot?

The speaker advises going outside and surrounding oneself with other people to feel better, make memories, and slow down the perception of time.

What impact does staying at home too much have on a person's life according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, staying at home too much can lead to a lack of productivity, a feeling of time speeding up, and a decrease in the quality of life.

What personal change did the speaker make to overcome their homebody tendencies?

The speaker started going outside more often, such as taking a bike ride to a cafe, to break their routine and improve their mental well-being.