Enjoy being a homebody? You’re not alone! Well+Good called nesting one of the hottest trends of 2017. During the 2020-2021 pandemic, it became a way of life. What is nesting, though, and why has it been growing in popularity over the last few years?

Nesting with Netflix

One of the reasons why nesting is becoming so popular is the rise of the internet and social media. With the internet making it so easy to connect, going out to see people is less popular. Instead, it’s possible to chat with people across the country from your couch.

It’s become possible to watch whatever you want, when you want.

By the same token, it’s no longer necessary to go out for entertainment. With Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and a multitude of other streaming services, video entertainment is at your fingertips. It’s become possible to watch whatever you want, when you want. Most of streaming services achieve this while being less expensive each month than a single night out at the movies. “Binge-watch” was the 2015 Word of the Year for a reason.

What the internet has done is put the world within your reach from home. It’s now possible to stay connected and entertained without leaving your house. To many, this is more than enough of a reason to stay in.

Unplug and Recharge

The opposite is also true. The proliferation of social media means that we are always connected. Considering that Americans are working longer and harder, it’s understandable that “me-time” is a treasured commodity.

Considering that Americans are working longer and harder, it’s understandable that “me-time” is a treasured commodity.

Nesters are filling this time with hobbies and side projects that interest them. We see this in Pinterest, the online catalog of crafts, experiencing a 121 percent jump in self-care searches. This can include activities like makeup and nail fashion or skin and body care routines.

Americans are also becoming more interested in cooking at home. Companies like Blue Apron or HelloFresh make it easier to achieve this by sending the ingredients and recipes to you. These meals tend to be cheaper and healthier than eating out!

The Rise of Health-First Attitudes

Cooking at home points towards another growing trend. Americans of all ages are focusing more on being healthy. Websites like the Shop & Enroll blog are a part of that. As mentioned above, many of the options for eating at home are healthier and cheaper. Cooking from scratch also makes it easier to control exactly what you eat.

Many of the options for eating at home are healthier and cheaper.

Additionally, a growing number of Americans trying a sober lifestyle are influencing the nesting trend. Many of the classic “going out” activities center around drinking. For those that are choosing to abstain, there isn’t much of an appeal.

And of course, no discussion of staying at home and health would be complete without acknowledging the COVID-19 pandemic. During the numerous stay-at-home orders or unofficial stay-at-home requests many of us got a taste of the lifestyle, which were in place to protect people from catching or spreading the coronavirus. At that point, though, finding happiness at home instead of going to a crowded bar, theater, or music venue wasn’t just a nice way to recharge your batteries or relax. It was a matter of national health protection and civic duty. Now that it’s safe to return to society, if you enjoyed any peace and serenity you found at home, there’s no reason you need to stop.

What Does It Mean to Me?

So, what does this all mean? For those of you who still like to have a night on the town, not much will change. Going out is still an enjoyable activity for millions of Americans. If anything, this trend will mean it’s easier for you to get reservations at that restaurant or enjoy other venues with a smaller crowd.

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If the idea of nesting is appealing to you, though, get ready. As the trend continues to grow, we can expect more nesting-oriented services to spring up. For those of you hunting for that elusive “me-time,” this can only be a good thing.