How can I escape from monsters quickly in Minecraft?

In Minecraft, I often find myself being ambushed by hostile mobs as the sun starts to set, especially when I'm far away from my base. What is the most effective way to escape from monsters/hostile mobs in Minecraft?

I am usually able to escape monsters quickly and easily by carrying boats with me, and staying close to the shore whenever possible. This allows me to make a quick getaway from monsters whenever they get close, since the boats let me travel much faster than running or walking, and consume no hunger either. Boats also can move much faster than any hostile mob, which makes it easy to outrun them.

You could also just start digging. Dig 3 blocks down in a stairway formation real quick, and then start tunneling home. Be sure to throw a few blocks behind you to prevent yourself from being followed.

I find that the most effective way to escape is to simply build a small 1x1x2 hut around me, tab out, and wait until morning. I generally carry a stack of cobble/dirt around with me, both for this purpose and for impromptu staircases.

Double pressing the 'forward' key to sprint should give any mob a hard time trying to catch you, even an angry Enderman. Looking at @Jame's answer here, you can see that every mob has a 16 block radius, so you just need to sprint for about five seconds to stop being chased by that mob. Also, if you are in a tight space, you can punch the mob. Don't be afraid to move up, just keep hitting it until it is dead. You could dig a 1 by 3 hole down, and then cover up the block above your head. This will keep you safe until morning. Alternatively, you can always carry a bed with you, and skip the night that way (instead of waiting until morning).