What to do when you’ve outgrown the club scene

Website design By BotEap.comI was out for dinner with friends and when we decided it was too early to finish we went to a dance club adjacent to the restaurant for a drink. As we walked, we laughed as we reminisced about our previous experiences at the clubs. When we walked in, we were stunned to find that we felt completely and utterly out of place.

Website design By BotEap.comHow did we get so old? Why did these 20-somethings look so YOUNG? What was this music? How are these young people dressed? Wow, we quickly realized that there was a time and a place for this, and it was about 20 years ago!

Website design By BotEap.comAs you mature, other things in life take precedence over nursing hangovers and not remembering the end of the night. Spending your entire paycheck on drinks doesn’t seem fiscally responsible anymore. However, sometimes it is very difficult to get away from the party club scene that has been a part of your life for so long. How do you meet people? What should you do on a Friday night? How can you persuade your friends to do otherwise?

Website design By BotEap.comBelieve it or not, THERE IS life beyond the club scene and there are many other ways to meet people, whether it be at your church, at the gym, or at dinners and fundraisers.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen I think back to the fun times I had in my youth, I remember the alcohol-induced giggles and the quirkiness, but I also remember feeling a little empty, like something was missing. After a while, I realized my bar and nightclub days were over and it was time to get back to things “the rest of the world” was involved in.

Website design By BotEap.comAre you at this point and ready for a change? Here are some ways to skip the club scene in favor of something a little more productive.

Website design By BotEap.comcome back to sport
Why not spend the afternoon with some of your friends and family at a sporting event? Following closely can add a bit of spice to the pre-game hours, WITHOUT letting the libations get out of hand. Spending time with people you enjoy invigorated in the fresh air is certainly a wonderful day. If you can’t afford an afternoon at an NFL football game, go to a college game, as they can be even more exciting. Head over to your local baseball farm team. How about hockey?

Website design By BotEap.comgo out for dinner
Instead of spending the night dancing and meeting people you’d probably never talk to let alone rub up with, try going out to dinner with some close friends. You might even set up a date with someone you’ve been interested in. Dinner and drinks are a much more “grown-up” way to enjoy an evening. Great conversation, fantastic food, inviting atmosphere. If you take the time to research a place, you just might find exactly what you’re looking for. How about a hole-in-the-wall Italian joint with fantastic food, a trendy place to “be seen” or a fancy restaurant with impeccable service?

Website design By BotEap.comtake time for yourself
If you’ve been working really hard and need a quiet break, try staying home at night. Do you have a gift for the culinary arts? Make for yourself or even a few friends a recipe you’ve been waiting to try and enjoy with some wine and conversation (or even skip the wine and just chat!) If you love to read or watch movies, make some time for these things. A great book or funny movie can be quite revitalizing and easy conversation for when you’re out and about socializing.

Website design By BotEap.comDo whatever you want
If your main reason for going out is to meet people or “someone”, try other social places. Join a book club, gym, cigar club, or yacht club. It’s surprising how many clubs exist for specific interests. There’s something about sharing interests with people that almost automatically brings you together. I have met many who I now consider friends through those places.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you find that you’ve been neglecting your hobbies, be sure to recommit. Do you love the outdoors? Looking to push your body to the limit? Then make an effort to get physical. The adrenaline rush alone in something like rock climbing or hang gliding would be enough to put the clubbing scene behind you. Get together with your friends to play soccer on a Saturday afternoon. Find intramural sports in your area. There are so many ways to exercise your body and not your wallet.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen it becomes more important to preserve your brain cells than to kill them, more important to enjoy your weekend than to waste it, more important to live life than to stumble, it may be time to reassess your age and what most people are like today. your age. doing!