The Importance of a Girls Night In

When you get older, it’s really hard to find time to spend with your friends. Work, family life and additional priorities end up getting in the way far too easily and sometimes there isn’t enough money in the bank to say: “I’ll meet you for a sneaky drink this Friday.” I’ve noticed this a lot with my life at the moment. I was doing my part-time job as a ‘Student Ambassador’ at the university the other day and met another student ambassador for the first time. He had just finished his degree and was beaming with excitement about starting his brand new job the following week. We began talking about studies and prioritising life in the third year. What really struck me about this conversation was the fact that within ten minutes he said: “I’ve only just met you, but I've already discovered you're a girl that never really switches off. When do you have time to yourself?” I'm always really defensive when it comes to discussing my work commitments and use the same old generic excuses like ‘it will help me develop my career’ or ‘I get bored when I’ve got nothing to do’. Really we all need a break from time to time and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight in what is really important. Throughout my day as a student ambassador, I had a lot of gaps in my timetable where I had nothing to do, but sit around. It had really affected me that someone who I had just met in other words described me as a ‘workaholic’ and it made me feel like I’m no fun. I started to think about the last time I saw my friends properly and remembered that it was a few months ago now on our last ‘girls night in’.

A recent survey by Ladbrokes Bingo showed that 70% of womenpreferred a girl’s night in*. I’m one of those women. I love to get the girls round, make homemade cocktails with heavy measures of alcohol and splashon the facemasks whilst watching chick flicks. The conversations of the night usually divulge into ones work life, sex life and in my case, usually a synopsis of last months shopping habits. We have lots of fun and it’s more intimate talking to your friends than being in an overcrowded bar being kicked to the side in a race to buy shots. Don’t get me wrong – I love a night out, but I like being able to hear my friends from time to time too.

Girls Night In Essentials

·      Face masks. I really think applying facemasks on a girl’s night in can be so much fun. Yes, you have to remove your makeup and it looks fairly unglamorous, but the giggles you all get from peeling off purple goo makes it all worthwhile. Plus, you will have excellent skin in the morning.

·      Alcohol. You don’t have to drink to have fun, but sometimes it’s nice to relax and wind down after a long week of work. I love making cocktails with Chambord at the moment, but my alcohol of choice varies on a monthly basis.

·      Chick Flick. When I do girls nights in, I like to make them as girly as possible. I’m not really an action movie type of woman and would much prefer watching Bridget Jones with my friends any day of the week. It doesn’t have to be a chick flick, but definitely something that will make you laugh and forget about work for the night.

It’s time I call up my friends and put the work down for a night.  Girl’s nights are important, because having a good group of girl friends can really set you up for life and you know that they will always be there for you no matter what. I know personally I would do anything for my girls.

What would be your perfect girls night in?