These days, there are some weekends that I don't even go out one night. In college, I'd go out four nights a week. Now, sometimes it's rare that I go out once. It's not that I don't like people anymore or that I don't like spending time with my friends. It's that going out almost always involves drinking and my body has officially raised a white flag when it comes to recovering from a night of drinking.
Tonight, I found myself torn. I went to the Mets game with some friends and enjoyed a hot dog and a few beers. I stopped myself there. My friends wanted to go out once we got back to Manhattan. Usually, I'm all about it. I like to go with the flow and have fun with my friends. But, although tomorrow is Friday and it's usually a slower and more quiet day in the office, I still have a lot to get done and I'd like to be at 100% for that. Thankfully, my body is still processing three beers for me. (I did go to the bar, nursed a beer and enjoyed the company of my friends.)
There have been several times in the past that I haven't controlled myself so well and a couple of drinks turned to many and that turned into a hangover. A little part of me, two years later, is still in college mode. That part is saying "have another drink, have fun; you'll be fine tomorrow." Sometimes I give in because it is fun. But when I wake up the next morning and have to go to work or get up on a weekend and be productive (whether it's running errands or visiting family), it's not so fun.
I've turned into more of a homebody because of this internal dilemma and while I love a quiet and relaxing night in, a few to many of those can cause me to feel lonely. I need to find a way to make my socializing work for me. I want to have fun, keep a nice social calendar and not have it hold me back in any aspect of my life.
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I know exactly what you mean! I'm going through the same thing and haven't really figured out a good balance yet either.
This is so exactly spot on!
I find that some weekends the boyf and I don't go out at all but spend time drinking wine, eating good food and watching movies on the couch. In college we lived with a bunch of roommates and something was ALWAYS going on. It was a great excuse to get out and party 4+ nights of the week. These days, especially in this cold and wintery weather, we find ourselves unmotivated to dress up for a night on the town and prefer to spend it in our sweats.
But other times the effort of going out is well worth it, so I guess I still have a little bit of college in me!
A few years ago I was able to go out with my friends, come home at 5am, sleep for 2 hours then get up and go to work. Now I'm lucky if I even make it to last call!
Getting old blows.
I totally agree. I used to go out on Fridays after a long day of work and be able to hang until 2am. Now, the thought of my couch and TLC's "What not to Wear" is more appealing than that Sat. morning hangover.
I know what you mean - once you're working you can't go out as much. But you can go out but have soft drinks, that might make it easier to get up in the morning!
Sometimes it's just in the people. I have friends like that too, but I have other friends where a pizza and a movie is usually good enough to keep us entertained for a night. Maybe join some classes and stuff on the evenings? You'll probably surprised at the diffeerent & interesting people you'll meet
By the way, I passed some awards your way :)
This is me in a nutshell. I'm a teacher so I would love to drink my ridiculous day away and cut loose; however, I have guilt thinking about functioning the next day. Plus, I'm almost always too tired to even make it out. Sigh, I miss college.
I definitely think it's true once you get older and are working, it's harder to go out. And after a few too many times drinking in excess, it's harder to recover.
I seem to go through stretches like you. I'll spend a couple weeks, even months, going out all the time and then hit a period where I'm like, 'Eh, I'd rather stay in.' I think a lot of it also depends on the season. In the summer I tend to want to go out way more than the winter.
i'm the same way. but i find if i want to avoid the hangover, but still go out with friends, nursing a beer is the way to go. best of both worlds kind of.
Oh, I hear ya... it just keeps going downhill, too, lol! I tried fighting it when it first started, but after many miserable days at work, school or doing my weekend errands, I threw in the towel. I may be lame to some of my friends, but you get to the point where you don't care anymore - feeling like a normal human being is more important! My strategy for when I do go out: I order drinks that I sip slowly and enjoy, like martinis - which I prefer anyway :)
I cannot do ANYTHING hungover. I'm still a student but I don't usually drink much on school nights, and if I do, I'm skipping class the next morning! Now that I'm at an internship all summer I want to be on the top of my game every day to impress my bosses so I don't even think about having more than one or two glasses of wine on a week night! I literally cannot function hungover and I'm a mess!
I am the SAME way! However, in my old age (30) - I have found that you, and the right friends, can have just as much fun playing a great board game and drinking lemonade! LOL!
-E
I understand!! I think we all go thru that from time to time. You will find a happy medium just takes lots of self control!
1st - I'm new to your blog and absolutely love it! After browsing through everything, you definitely have a follower in me!
2nd - this is so true. Describing it as still having a little college left in you is exactly how I feel. I think I'm just not ready to admit I'm supposed to be a complete grown up yet. Sure, I struggle on the days with a hangover, but the fun times the night before are usually what leaves me with some great memories.
I agree! My friends and I joked last year as we sat around the restaurant table, after having just refused refills on our Margaritas, that we had become such old ladies! But don't worry. It works itself out. We've figured out how to enjoy the "social drink" and leave compete debauchery for special occasions.
I guess I really don't have that problem because I'm not a huge fan of alcohol, but my problem is staying up too late and not getting enough zzz's. Maybe just go out to dinner with a friend and watch a movie? I find this is a nice way to be social but still get enough sleep. It's hard finding the right balance and sometimes super frustrating when work starts taking over and your social life becomes number two. If it makes you feel better I'm a home body too...it's hard when you work 40 hours a week! Lol.
I know what you mean. I'm in college now, but for some reason I'm much happier with a night in than a night out. I feel like a loser sometimes, but whatever..I've come to accept that some people loveeee to party and others need to find the right combo.
Love this post!! I can so relate.
And by any chance was the title inspired by Rent?? If not, you can totally ignore me.
I can totally relate to that. I'm not even out of college :(. I have an internship this summer where I have to work 9-5 and it's just too exhausting. I've also lost my ability to drink without a hangover or recover quickly!
I just found your blog and it's fantastic! My suggestion for those longer nights out: water between each cocktail! A full glass. And avoidance of smoke (assuming you don't smoke yourself). But even then, this is just part of growing up. :)
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