I’m someone whose Oura ring starts telling me to prepare for bed at 6:30 p.m. My ideal weekend night is spent swiping through ASMR videos with a mocktail in hand. But sometimes it still feels like the only way to socialize and have a good time with others is to go out. Historically, nightlife has been marketed as the epitome of fun – it tells us that if you’re not an enthusiastic participant, you might just be a boring person. But the public’s approach to wellness is rapidly evolving, and so too is their approach to socializing.
“Traditional nightlife isn’t fulfilling anymore,” says Mandi Zhou, co-founder of Sweatpals – an app that connects users with nearby fitness and wellness events. “We’re seeing record-low drinking rates, with only 54 percent of U.S. adults saying they drink alcohol now, and nearly half of Americans saying they want to drink even less.” So what does that mean for the future of nightlife? According to the Sweatpals founders, it’s being replaced with what they’re calling “daylife.”
“Daylife is a term we coined at Sweatpals to capture a shift in how people socialize and look for connection,” Sweatpals co-founder Salar Shahini tells Popsugar. “It’s the idea that going out doesn’t have to mean late nights at bars or clubs anymore, and isn’t the only way to meet people, but instead is about finding that same energy, adrenaline rush, and connection during the day through movement and wellness experiences.” Think sober sauna raves instead of clubbing, early-bird run clubs with no hangxiety, and group hikes instead of happy hour.
Intrigued by this idea, I decided to replace nightlife for daylife. Here’s what I learned in the process.
Daylife Experience
My first venture into daylife was a silent disco yoga session. Instead of spending Friday night out on the town, I stayed in so I could wake up in time for the 9 a.m. class (sans hangover). I felt nervous heading to the event, as I didn’t know anyone else there, but by the end, I had made a few friends, grounded myself for the weekend, and picked up some recs for a new farmer’s market. The silent disco playlist was great, and I was proud to have done something for both my body and mental health. I was also acutely aware that I never would’ve been able to reap these benefits had I spent the previous night partying.
Next up was a day of wellness with ALO Wellness Club. The day included a mindfulness meditation, a lymphatic massage, and a mat Pilates class with one of my favorite instructors, Bianca Wise. I practiced in-person, but ALO Wellness Club is also available for free online if you’re looking to try a little daylife from the comfort of your own home. The workout was tough (definitely more challenging than a hours-long stint on the dance floor), but I could practically feel the endorphins flowing through my body afterwards.
Last in my daylife experiment was a dance cardio workout with Zappos and fitness instructor Rachel McClusky. As a group, we twirled, grape-vined, and jumped around before heading into brunch together. Did I sweat my butt off? Absolutely, yes. But I also made more meaningful connections than I ever did at a bar – laughing with my neighbors, high-fiving in support, and asking them to pass the avocado toast. Plus, the workout really did feel like a party.
Daylife Takeaways
Although daylife is definitely different from nightlife, I can confirm that the endorphins do seem to hit better in the daytime. I also appreciated how my daylife experiment connected me with like-minded people. In the middle of ALO Wellness Day, I ran into a good friend without even knowing she would be there. But these findings aren’t entirely surprising to Shahini.
“Nightlife culture leaves you depleted. Daylife is the antidote,” he says. “It lets you build real connections while doing something that supports your health . . . you’re meeting people in an environment where you’re all showing up as your best self.” To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional GNO every now and then. But for those seeking deeper connection or a departure from traditional nightlife, daylife is a game changer.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the health and fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.
