Why Feeling ‘Sunshine Guilt’ Is Very Real but Very Wrong

You wake up on your day off.

It's a stunning day with plenty of sunshine.

Yup, 'tis the seasonal height of the year to feel "sunshine guilt." Summertime is the most common, even though you can feel this all year round.

WHAT IS SUNSHINE GUILT?

Oh, those lazy days are the best until you start feeling sh*tty about yourself because you stayed inside on a beautiful, sunny day where you should have been outside taking advantage of. After all, don't you spend most of your time inside?

But, basically, all you want to do on your day off is lie on your couch and binge movies or a new series while ordering DoorDash.

When you feel super guilty for staying inside on those beautiful, sunny days, especially on the weekend, and do absolutely nothing but relax and watch movies or read while lounging around the house in a t-shirt and sweats while eating comfort food, that's sunshine guilt.

JUST 5 MINUTES: Why Moving for Five Minutes a Day is Great for Your Brain

Ugh, this is so real, isn't it? Nothing ruins a lovely, lazy day inside like sunshine.

How often do you love a rainy day when you don't have to work, so you don't have to live the rollercoaster feelings of sunshine guilt on your day off?

FEELING OF SUNSHINE GUILT

Your mind starts spinning, thinking about everyone else taking advantage of the pleasantness.

Are you missing out?

Should you say we weren't feeling well if anyone asks what you did on that beautiful Saturday?

Excuses start forming so you don't feel so guilty, and others don't think you're pathetic.

WHY FEELING SUNSHINE GUILT IS UNHEALTHY

According to the Huffington Post website, that regretful feeling whenever you stay inside on a nice day is because you're assuming everyone else is outside living their best life.

Sidebar: I hate that saying "living your best/my best life," don't you?

According to the Bustle website, the negative stigma associated with not taking advantage of wonderful weather is complete BS.

We all do it.

It's totally normal.

It usually means you just want to recharge after being "on" all week.

While sunshine and socialization are good for you, sometimes you need that downtime, so never feel guilty.

Simply step outside for a few minutes to grab the mail, take a deep breath, or sit outside for a moment if you'd like. Even open a window, but overall just enjoy your day off inside reading or watching movies, because so many people are doing it, too, to escape and just be mentally and physically.

On an interesting side note, according to the News Talk website, if you live in a region that has more than 300 days of sunshine each year, like Colorado, the southwest, and Southern California, you don't have to deal with sunshine guilt quite as much as the rest of the country.