Female friendships are the key to a long and fruitful life, and science proves that having a girls’ night is not just a bonus, but in fact necessary. Studies show that consistently going out with your girlfriends will improve your overall health and wellbeing. These benefits include reduced stress and anxiety levels, a stronger immune system, an increase in self-confidence and a sense of purpose and belonging.
Going out to a bar or a party offers a much-needed escape from the stresses of college life. Dancing and singing releases endorphins, our brain’s “feel-good” chemicals, providing an opportunity to momentarily set aside worries and immerse ourselves in the present moment. Experiencing this with your girlfriends is even better. I’ve had some pretty rough weeks, where by the end of it I just feel completely emotionally and mentally drained. Spending the weekend dancing, singing, laughing and being silly with my friends is always the best way for me to recharge.
Girls’ night doesn’t have to be a party though. The purpose of a girls’ night is to reconnect and recharge, so if partying is not your style, then there are so many other options for you and your gals. My favorite way to spend an evening with my friends is to have a craft night. The best craft night I can recall is one where we bought a posterboard from Dollar Tree and made ourselves a board game to play. A team effort and a guarantee for future gatherings!
Some other great ways to spend time with your girls is to have a movie night, spend a night cooking together or have a game night. Girls’ night could also be as simple as sitting down and having a meal together. During my freshman year, me and my friends did what we called “family dinner” every night at Regs. This was our time to debrief our days and catch up with each other after a long and oftentimes stressful day. The act of sitting down and eating at Regs seems pretty mundane, but some of my best memories are from the conversations we had in that dining hall.
Now that we’re seniors without dining plans, we have to get a bit more creative with our hangouts. My favorite thing to do is to host a gathering at my apartment. Hosting these gatherings for your friends can feel extremely rewarding. Whether it’s to celebrate a holiday or a friend’s birthday, listen to a new album or to get rid of food and drinks from your last function, any excuse to decorate the apartment and spend time with your friends is a good one. So host a gathering for anything and everything. Life is more fun and fulfilling when you celebrate the small and stupid things. Having pictures to look back on of you and your friends in the places you lived throughout your college experience is so special.
So next time you think about passing on a night with your girlfriends, consider the benefits of having a girls’ night. Prioritizing yourself and having your alone time to rest and recharge is equally as important, so finding a good balance between the two is key.
