Five tips to upgrade your night in

Whether you’ve been pub-crawling your way through Leamington, making the most of £1 jägerbombs at Kasbah, or frequenting the Freshers’ Fair stalls and signing up for everything, Freshers’ Week can be pretty full-on. Everyone wants to make the most of their time with their new flatmates. Even so, if you’re reading this, maybe you’ve already spent the weekly budget – or your weekly social battery – or perhaps you just can’t face another vodka squash from a kitchen mug. Everyone needs a night in sometimes.

Suddenly, your uni room is your own personal spa retreat

But a night in doesn’t have to mean rotting in your room and doomscrolling on TikTok for hours. Here are some tried and tested night-in ideas to hopefully give you and your flatmates a little inspiration.

1. Create your own spa retreat

While your room may not have a bathtub or sauna, it doesn’t mean you can’t unwind and perform some self-care. Start by picking up a face mask – my personal go-to is the £1 Superdrug face masks in avocado and charcoal. Light some candles, grab a sweet treat, and put on your favourite Netflix series. Suddenly, your uni room is your own personal spa retreat.

2. Get moving

If you don’t fancy just sitting back and relaxing, an evening walk around campus can completely refresh and revive you. Alternatively, if leaving the comfort of your room is not at all tempting, why not try an online pilates or yoga class? Get that blood flowing and those happy exercise endorphins circulating.

Nevertheless, a night in doesn’t have to be solo. ‘What about a night-in for me and my friends?’ I hear you ask. Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered.

3. Movie night

You can never go wrong with a movie night. Grab your flatmates, some popcorn, and a few cosy blankets, and you’re all set. To jazz up your cinema night, consider choosing a theme. On October evenings, for example, queue up some spine-chilling Halloween films and bond with your flatmates over the jump scares.

Can’t decide what to watch? Get each person to write down a film name and mix them up in a hat, taking turns each week to pick one. No endless scrolling, no arguments trying to agree on a film, and everyone’s happy. You might even discover a new favourite.

I guarantee that spending an evening at home will suddenly look much more appealing

4. Elevate your dinner

Make cooking tea into a flat function. You could take turns making dinner for your friends Come Dine With Me-style, or even attempt a ‘bring a board’ night, where everyone prepares a board of sharing food – from baked goods and nachos to oven pizza slices (if you’re no Gordon Ramsay). Feeling sophisticated? Try a cheese and wine night, and chat with friends over brie and pinot grigio without having to cook or set foot outside.

5. Spruce up your game nights

Game nights are a staple in my uni house – we’ve spent many competitive evenings arguing over who’s the ‘traitor’ in Traitors, the board game. Classic options like Monopoly and Uno never fail, but you could also try app-based games like Photo Roulette or Psych (be warned though, Psych causes real arguments, so only play if your friend group can definitely handle it). Alternatively, personalise your lineup with custom quizzes or activities – think fun facts about your friends or trivia based on your shared interests.

If you’re feeling inspired by any of these suggestions for a big night in, take your pick and test them out. I guarantee that spending an evening at home will suddenly look much more appealing.