When I moved from Philadelphia — a place that experiences all four seasons — to Los Angeles in 2017, I was initially enamored with the constant sunshine. But after a year or so, I started to miss those cold, rainy days where you curl inside with a good book or movie marathon.

I wanted an excuse to be lazy, but I felt like I didn’t have one because the weather was perpetually delightful. So I pushed myself to get out and hike, bike or eat outdoors every day — because wouldn’t it be a waste if I didn’t?

Looking back, I realize I was dealing with sunshine guilt, which Melissa Hummelt, a therapist and senior clinical operations manager at BetterHelp, told me is regret or pressure people feel when they stay inside on a gorgeous day. Sunshine guilt is common, but it’s not warranted.

“There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy a beautiful day, and no single definition of what it means to spend it well,” Hummelt told HuffPost.

Here’s why you feel ashamed about hanging inside on sunny days — and how to quiet that inner voice pestering you to do something with your day.

What, exactly, is sunshine guilt?

For most people, sunshine guilt presents as a “nagging voice in the back of your mind that says, ‘You should be outside,’ even when your body and mind are telling you to rest or be still,” said Claudia Giolitti-Wright, the founder of Psychotherapy for Young Women in New York City.

You might feel like you’re wasting the day or not taking advantage of the good weather. You may become increasingly irritable, tense or battle a bad case of FOMO when you see photos of your friends enjoying the outdoors, according to Hummelt.

These symptoms can be especially brutal for those who are already feeling burned out or overworked and don’t have the energy or motivation to go do outdoor activities, Giolitti-Wright said. And sunshine guilt is particularly common among people who hold themselves to high standards, are sensitive to social comparison, or already deal with anxiety, adds Hummelt.

What causes us to feel so guilty when we stay inside on sunny days?

According to Giolitti-Wright, sunshine guilt is a side effect of productivity culture and perfectionism. As she explained, “We live in a society that rewards doing over being or feeling.” To make matters worse, there’s a widely held belief that being outdoors is inherently healthier than staying inside, Hummelt added.

Internally, you may want to spend the day snoozing on the couch, but you might feel external pressure to go for that walk or book that dinner reservation on the outdoor patio. If you choose to lounge at home, you may feel inadequate or less-than. Hummelt said this guilt stems from the clash between the desire to rest and the expectation that you should get out and have an enriching experience.

How to cope with sunshine guilt

So how can you fully embrace staying indoors when the sky is blue and the sun is shining? The first step is to acknowledge what you’re feeling. Hummelt recommends pausing and labeling the emotion. Tell yourself, “I’m feeling pressure to go outside, but I also need rest,” she suggested. Why? Naming emotions creates self-awareness, which helps reduce the urge to self-criticize, she said.

Next, reflect about why you feel guilty for staying inside. What message are you telling yourself — and is that coming from yourself or, perhaps, a parent, teacher or friend? Then, challenge that message. According to Giolitti-Wright, self-awareness can help you change your behavior. “Once you identify the root of the guilt, you can decide whether it still serves you or if it’s time to let it go and replace it with a different belief,” Giolitti-Wright said.

Then, give yourself permission to take it easy. Remind yourself that your worth isn’t always tied to your productivity and performance. “Sometimes it’s also tied to your ability to rest and choose yourself,” Giolitti-Wright said. And reframe the narrative that staying inside is bad. Replace thoughts like “I wasted the day” with “Rest is productive.” Doing so will reduce any guilt you’re feeling and affirm that your choices are valid and fulfilling, according to Hummelt.

Lastly, redefine what it even means to enjoy the weather. It doesn’t always have to mean going for a hike or bike ride. Simply open the windows, sit on your stoop, or have your morning coffee by the sunniest window in your home, Giolitti-Wright recommended. “This helps reframe outdoor time as something flexible and intuitive rather than another task you need to perform,” she said.