“My eyes red but my brim low.”
– The Weeknd, Initiation
It was ten o’clock at night. I watched as some dude staggered around the club mumbling incoherent nonsense to girls. After getting blown out for about the hundredth time, he decided to do something else. Picking up a a set of throwing darts, he lurched towards the exit. From what I gathered he was intent of hurling the darts at passing cars. Fortunately, he never made it out the door. In his drunken state, he collapsed on the floor and remained there until his friends dragged him out to their car.
Don’t be that guy.
Staying sober is, once you get used to it, a lot more fun than getting wasted. Unfortunately, like everything worthwhile, it takes practice to get good at. The first few times that you go out and don’t drink, you will feel incredibly weird. It’s really easy to end up becoming the guy who stands in the corner pretending to text, because you have no idea what to do with yourself.
Luckily, I’ve created a simple pre-game routine that generates a healthy and powerful buzz that (if handled correctly) can last throughout the night.
1. Lift heavy.
Nothing makes me feel more confident and energetic than a good lift. Working out and lifting weights will not only make you look better, but also make you feel more powerful and dominant. If I can’t hit the gym, I like to crank out one hundred pushups and situps before heading out the door.
2. Eat light.
Anyone who’s ever celebrated Thanksgiving can attest to the fact that eating too much makes you lethargic. I’ve missed out on more than a couple nights of debauchery, simply because I overate and didn’t feel like going out. Nowadays, I only eat light before going out. A protein shake and some eggs is more than enough food to get through the evening.
3. Juice.
In case you couldn’t tell, I love juicing. Much like lifting, juice provides a massive surge in energy and confidence. Plus, it’s both good for you and inexpensive. My favorite pre-game juice is a delicious and testosterone boosting pomegranate-kale cocktail. I always drink one about ten minutes before I roll out.
4. Don’t use electronics.
Minecraft and Reddit have cost me many a Saturday night. It’s really easy to start playing a game or browsing a site, and become so engrossed that you cancel your plans. At this point I try and abstain from all electronic stimulation for at least two hours before going out. That means no movies, video games, or Internet. I do however, like to throw on some music and dance around a little.
5. Don’t read or write.
Like watching television, reading and writing are horrible pre-game activities. Reading and writing always puts me into a very logical mode, which inhibits me from having fun. As much as I love to read, I usually skip doing so for at least a couple hours before going to an event.
6. Don’t nap.
If I take a nap at nine o’clock at night, I’m lucky to wake up by midnight. Even if I get up earlier, I feel incredibly tired for the rest of the night, and spend the entire evening with zero energy. If I skip napping, I’m nowhere near as drowsy.
7. Dress sharp.
You don’t have to wear a custom suit to go out, but you should try and dress slightly better than everyone else. I wear dark jeans, a button up, and a vibrant pair of shoes. Since most people dress atrociously anyway, it’s actually rather easy stand out from the rest of the crowd. If you don’t know how to dress nicely, I recommend checking out Masculine Style for quality fashion advice.
8. Get pumped.
On your way to the destination, start getting excited. I love to blare trap music and party songs. Nothing gets me more amped than bumping the latest Gucci Mane mix tape. Obviously you should listen to whatever you enjoy, but I recommend picking energetic songs.
9. Get social.
Start talking to people before you even reach your destination. Go stop at a store, buy a pack of gum, and talk to the cashier. Strike up a conversation with people in line with you at the club. Whatever you do, just start socializing as soon as possible. Your brain will enter a more social mode, and you’ll start to loosen up.
While following these steps won’t guarantee a fantastic night every time you go out, it does drastically improve the quality of your evening. If you’re interested in learning about how to meet people once you’re at an event, I recommend checking out this fantastic article.