Make your nightlife healthier

Nightlife describes the availability of entertainment that spans from the late evening to the early hours of the next day. Such entertainment is typically found in bars, pubs, nightclubs, cinemas, parties, music concerts and plenty of other make-do venues. Those of us who prefer to be out late in the night have been aptly described as night owls. You don’t need to search very far to find a nightlife spot near you that can cater for many of your nocturnal inclinations.

Nightlife has been a vibrant area of research by many interest groups, ranging from sociologists to health experts. There are plenty of publications dedicated to nightlife, some academic and others fictional. What is not in doubt is that nightlife contributes in many ways to the way we live, and has an impact on the economy, health, creativity and much more. Nightlife venues function as third places, getting you away from your home (first place) and from your work (second place).What’s nightlife got to do with your health? Well, you only need to remember what happens in entertainment spots at night to relate such activities to your prevailing health. There is plenty of food, a good fraction of which is either junk or just unhealthy. There is plenty of drink, an unhealthy combination of sugar-laden soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Then there are drugs of all types. All that adds up to a good recipe for violence, motor accidents, reckless sexual encounters and hardly any sleep.

If you are a night owl, you need to remain vigilant to potential ill effects of your nocturnal endeavors, and temper your activities accordingly. Select your entertainment spots wisely, best to avoid places where anything goes. Look for healthier foods, only succumb to the occasional indulgence with processed foods and red roasts. Unhealthy food choices can predispose you to metabolic diseases. Limit your alcohol intake to recommended levels, alternating orders with plenty of water or freshly pressed fruit juices. Don’t smoke, and this applies both to tobacco and other hard drugs. Limit your night out to a certain hour, this will help with the temptation to over-indulge and guarantee some rest before the next day arrives.

Sticking to the healthier side of nightlife has its own benefits. Being out there helps with relaxing and unwinding after a hectic day. It’s good for body and soul. Have a hearty laugh with your mates, and some locker room banter if you like! Just being in a carefree third space can unlock your creative genius, and keep your mental state in check too. The trick is not to overdo it. You must find a way of restricting your nightlife to safe limits. That way you will enjoy the benefits of being out there, and you will also avoid the evitable health risks that come with reckless nightlife behavior.