For centuries, the concept of a “man cave” has drawn men in, and vexed women, in equal measure. From the actual caves of cavemen to the modern back garden sheds we use to practice the guitar, the man cave is still in full force. But why?
One of the main reasons is that Man Cave gives a man his own personal space to decompress and engage in work or favored hobbies. They also tend to provide the quiet and solitude that a lot of men need to think. Man caves are also a place for storing collectibles and memorabilia.
A lot of men do not even know why they need man caves. They just know that they do and, oftentimes, have a difficult time trying to explain the reasons to their significant others. Gentlemen, your struggles are over. The following is a list detailing just why man caves are important. Let’s get right into it.
10 reasons why a man cave is important
1. Managing emotions
Psychology professor Sam Gosling, from the University of Texas at Austin, is a thorough believer in the positive impact of occupying spaces that one has designed and decorated on their own. In his book, What Your Stuff Says About You, he argues that a room that is decorated by the individual serves as a reflection of one’s identity. This sense of identity, according to Gosling, produces strong, calming emotions that cannot be accessed in areas that were decorated by other people.
You read that one correctly, ladies. Your man’s 22-year old beer can collection is the metaphorical ferryboat to his “happy place”. In fact, Gosling’s assertions were not just specifically aimed at man cave owners…and they weren’t just aimed at men either.
This “my space, my happy place” theory, as I like to call it, applies to everyone. Men, women, and children. What are kids’ treehouses and pillow-forts, if not reflections of their juvenile identities?
Most men are not overly expressive about their emotions in public spaces. However, that does not mean men are not emotional creatures, far from it. Society’s projection of men being “tough” and “macho” overlooks the simple fact that everyone needs an outlet from time to time. For women, this often involves talking about problems with friends. For men though, just working or relaxing in their man cave goes a considerable distance towards easing stress.
2. Staying fit
In pop culture, man caves are often depicted as decrepit second lounges or basements where dads, or granddads, harp on about ‘Nam or why the Detroit Lions haven’t won a national championship since 1957. Of course, these activities are often accompanied by a large bowl of potato chips and gallons upon gallons of beer. A shotgun is also a common sight somewhere in the backdrop.
Not to say that binge drinking over war stories is a bad thing, but that is not all man caves are about. Some guys use their man caves as makeshift home gyms, so they can sneak in a workout or two without leaving the house. If you live far from a gym, why not bring the gym home to you?
The nature of your man cave fitness-factory will be determined, largely, by the amount of space available. Your budget, naturally, will be on the panel too. The good thing is that there are several affordable bits of fitness equipment and gear on Amazon.com.
If you are one of the aforementioned beer-guzzling commandos, why not start with cardio? An exercise bike is a great investment for your man cave, and most of the modern ones are compact enough to fit in the tiniest of rooms. Whether you’re doing steady-state cardio for hours, or just doing a brief high-intensity session, you will fry the potato calories and get a dose of rewarding endorphins. Workout tip? To pedal faster, imagine you’re being chased by the Viet Cong and you “gotta make it to the evacuation ‘chopper’”.
Weights are also a good addition to your man cave. Why not start with some dumbbells? Check out the PJIAOSBOX adjustable dumbbell and barbel set on Amazon today.
3. Personal space
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, no? Periodically, people in relationships need to spend time apart to avoid stepping on each other’s toes. This is doubly true for married or cohabitating couples.
Now, before you get upset (or excited), I am NOT advocating for the abrupt abandonment of significant others. What I am saying is people, even those who love each other, are different and will not always be on the same page at all times. Control of television is one common point of friction in many homes worldwide. He wants to watch the game, and she wants her regular fix of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It may seem trivial, but little things like this can add up and turn into a form of hidden resentment…or worse.
Having your personal spaces enables both of you to be out of each other’s faces for a bit, as you engage in your individual interests. Some women may interpret their man’s need for solitude as a direct snubbing of the entire relationship, but I assure you, that is (usually) not the case.
Men use solitude to reflect on their lives and work on solutions to any problems they might be facing. This is where the disconnect is because women are the opposite. Women like to convene in groups and verbally talk about their problems. This is why ladies find may their man’s requests for alone time baffling, especially in stressful times.
4. Work
With the rise of remote working, more and more people are turning their spare rooms, sheds, and basements into home offices. For some men, working from their man caves is a way to stay close to their family while being productive. There is also the added benefit of reduced costs because there is no need for daily commutes to work.
Another major benefit of working from your man cave is that you can work any time you wish, for as long as you wish. Want to bust out the laptop and start working at 3 AM? Go right ahead. There are no rules but the ones you devise, and no annoying co-workers updating you on their (and other people’s) personal lives. You can even work in your pajamas if you so choose. Sounds like a blast.
Working in an environment of your own making can boost your productivity and make you more engaged with your work. However, for this to succeed, you need to be a self-starting individual who can maintain productivity without constant supervision. If you let your levels of discipline drop, you will fall into a Dorito-shaped trap of mediocrity. (*SILENT TIP FOR GENTS*This is the last thing you want, as you know that she is constantly fishing for ANY REASON to turn your cave into a flower conservatory…but I digress.)
5. Nostalgia
Like most people, men enjoy the occasional stroll down memory lane. Whether it’s reading your old high school yearbook, or thumbing through photo albums of your college years, different personal artifacts can evoke strong remembrances of yesteryear.
Unfortunately, if you live in a shared house or apartment, some of your trinkets and treasures may be underappreciated or even unwanted in certain areas of the house. This is where the man cave comes in. In here you can hang all of your hunting trophies, stamps, and antique fish hooks in peace without having to explain yourself to anyone.
The lifestyle you lead in your man cave can be an expression of how you were during your bachelor days. After several years (or weeks) of marriage, some men like to dip their toe into elements of their youth in an attempt to re-capture their freedom from “the ball and chain”.
Maybe you could remodel the man cave to resemble your old apartment, or dorm, or hang some game-worn high school jerseys from your 1995 state championship football tournament. Perhaps you have some disco-era bell-bottoms that you still like to try on from time to time, silently wishing for the resurrection of funk. It’s all up to you.
6. Male bonding
As a man, the only thing that feels almost as good as owning a man cave is showing off your cool man cave to other guys. It’s deeply competitive, yet highly inspiring for men to meet and discuss in these boys’ clubs. Some guys are into high tech gear and gaming, which is a gateway to hours upon hours of competitive NBA 2K21 or Mortal Kombat 11.
The war stories are a classic, as we’ve already seen, as are poker nights, bachelor parties…arm-wrestling tournaments. However, the most common shared experience among men is, by far…SPORTS. Whether actually watching the sports, or talking about sports, or gambling on the sports. Sports, sports, sports. Sports.
I include hunting in this as well, because man caves are the grandest stage upon which to flex your considerable repertoire, and experience, of being the last thing a wild animal sees. Taxidermized deer, wolves, and bears are common. As are lions, tigers, giraffes, and zebra. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a big ugly boar’s head mounted over my desk. Maybe hang my keys off a tusk. I know, it’s a cruel jungle out there. That’s why you need a man cave.
Of course, with hunting comes guns and ammo. Gun collections are pretty common in man caves, and there’s nothing quite as therapeutic as polishing your prized hunting rifles. Disassembly, reassembly, and rehearsing your form (safely, of course) are valuable bonding experiences among men. Fathers and sons and sons-in-law, the list are endless. A lot of collectible or inherited guns have backstories and lore that can form rabbit-holes of facts, statistics, ballistic reports, and conspiracy theories. Maybe “gun x” was involved in “crime y”. Maybe one shotgun saved someone’s dad’s life.
Of course, it’s not always a merry old time. Man caves can be the best place to get other men to share their deepest concerns and grief. The need to appear hyper-masculine, unfortunately, inhibits such catharsis on a more frequent basis. Man caves can also be used to stage a private intervention for a friend who may be falling off the wagon a little bit, whether with alcohol, drugs, or gambling. If the man cave is enough to help you relax, it might also make the difference for a loved one in trouble.
7. Hobbies
I immediately think of a ship in a bottle that took years to put together sitting snugly on a shelf. Hobbies are essential for well-rounded development, and the man cave is the ideal place for extracurricular pursuits outside of work.
You can keep yourself busy in a number of different ways for hours and hours in your man cave. Collecting stamps (classic), learning a new instrument or language. A lot of men enjoy collecting rare whiskeys and bourbons from around the globe. Other guys collect comic books and authentic movie props.
You will never go wrong with a good book though. Just sit back and read to your heart’s content as another hectic day comes to a calm and collected close.
Fishing could fall under hunting and sports, I suppose. However, there’s something about the patience and calmness it brings that makes it more suitable for the hobby column. The treasure trove of memories, thanks to rod collections, prize catch photographs, and measurements is a limitless source of pride for seasoned fisherfolk.
Starting a podcast seems to be the new wave these days, so you might want to get on that train too. Head on over to Amazon and find some good recording equipment and start broadcasting.
8. Spirituality
The man cave is a place where one may practice their religious or customary beliefs and services. Even if you are not religious, you still need some time alone with your thoughts. No phone, no internet. Just you and your thoughts. These reflections can either provide you with solutions to your challenges or they can show you a different perspective altogether.
9. Staying smart
Your mind is like a muscle in that it needs exercise. You must always be seeking new knowledge and skills to stay on top of your game, mentally. This is especially true as we get older and too comfortable with being parked in front of the TV all day.
Reading is important, but don’t just read comic books and swimsuit magazines. Read on topics you don’t know. Biology, history, politics, philosophy, architecture. Even a great cookbook will expand your horizons beyond measure. Reading up on current events is also good for the mind. It’s never a bad idea to catch up with the culture, especially nowadays where there seems to be a new universal meme or catchphrase every week.
Board games like Monopoly are good fun in groups. Chess and checkers are perfect for hypercompetitive duos. Board games are, ironically, the ultimate boredom busters.
Listening to podcasts is a fun way to relax while also learning something. Whether it’s CEO interviews, teachings by professors or spiritual leaders, or inspirational stories from everyday people like you and me, this is a great way to be inspired and educated.
You could also use the peace and quiet to boost your qualifications and enroll in online courses. Maybe you want to complete a few credits to complete your degree, or you are trying to get ordained as a wedding minister. Your options, and prospects, are limited.
10. The last bastion
The other reasons listed above may be logical and, to some extent, for the greater good but this one is entirely selfish. Man caves are important simply because they are an expression of masculinity in its purest form. There, I said it.
The essence of masculinity is to not let one’s masculinity be defined by anyone other than himself. That goes for your significant other too. We all know that the shared abode usually “belongs” to the woman, who has almost dictatorial rights on most of the house’s furnishings and decorations. This makes the man cave the last stronghold for the rebel forces of manhood, and it faces an insurmountable wave of doilies and scented candles.
Quite frankly, if the man cave falls, all hope is lost. If that happens, it won’t be long before your pre-football barbeques are replaced by finger-food “brunches” and mimosas. For goodness sake, man. That’s not the life you want…is it?
In all seriousness, men need a private place to unwind and de-stress in peace so they can re-emerge refreshed, re-composed, and ready to continue being the best versions of themselves.