Balancing being a party girl with being a woman trying to thrive in her twenties isn’t always easy. The weekend always ends, and the Teams notifications will find you at 8 a.m. on Monday. But somewhere between the late nights and early mornings, there’s a rhythm to be found—a kind of spiritual equilibrium that keeps your mind, body, and soul in sync.
This is a love letter to the girls who stay out late—the ones with chipped nail polish, bruised knees, and full hearts. Hello, party girls.
For those of you who love to dance until sunrise but still want to show up for yourselves the next day, these are my tips and tricks for living on the edge without falling off.
Know your limits, and honor them
First things first: you need boundaries with yourself that you can stick to, even when you’re under the influence. If a certain substance tends to make you anxious, paranoid, or feel awful, don’t convince yourself to make an exception just because you’re having a good time.
I know that when the energy is high and everyone around you is having fun, it can feel like adding a little more to the equation will make the night even better. In my experience, it rarely does.
Most of us learn the hard way: which substances work with our bodies and which ones lead to panic attacks, nausea, or a night we’d rather forget. Once you know your limits, honor them. There’s nothing boring about knowing yourself. In fact, it’s one of the most important skills a party girl can have.
Your future self will thank you the next morning.
Count your drinks
This can be a hard one. Between the pregame, the group shots, and the seltzers that never seem to run out, it’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve had. I’ve gone overboard plenty of times because I didn’t feel drunk yet—until it all hit at once and suddenly the night was over.
Especially when it comes to liquor, try to keep a rough count of your drinks so you can learn what your sweet spot is. Depending on what you ate that day or how hydrated you are, it can take longer for the alcohol to kick in, which makes it tempting to keep drinking before you’ve fully felt the effects.
As a general rule, you can always have another drink, but you can’t take one back. (Well, unless you’re throwing up—and if that’s happening, it’s probably already game over.) Puke and rally, though sometimes effective, isn’t a fun sport.
If you’re already keeping track of your drinks, try alternating each one with a glass of water. Staying hydrated throughout the night can help pace your drinking, make you feel better overall, and soften the blow of the inevitable hangover the next morning.
The hangxiety cheat code
You know that moment when your eyes crack open the next morning and the entire night flashes through your head in a frantic replay? Tough spot.
Oh God, did I overshare? Was I embarrassing? Why did I say that? I definitely shouldn’t have made out with that person…
Stop.
I love going out with people who allow themselves to let loose and take up space. There’s nothing worse than a night out where everyone is so worried about being cool, composed, or mysterious that no one says what they actually mean. Some of the best nights happen when people are willing to be vulnerable, tell embarrassing stories, and admit the things they’d normally keep to themselves.
I’ve had some of the most touching, honest, and interesting conversations of my life a few drinks into the evening, when someone suddenly finds the courage to share what’s really on their mind—whether it’s a situationship they can’t stop thinking about or something their mom said to them when they were seven that they still carry around.
And as for making out with that stranger—or maybe that close friend? As long as everyone is consenting and unattached, why not? A little confused flirtation is like adding seasoning to the dish that is your life.
Most importantly, remember this: everyone is busy wondering if they embarrassed themselves. They’re replaying their own conversations, their own awkward moments, and their own questionable decisions. Chances are, they’re not nearly as fixated on what you said as you think they are.
Set intentions with sex and touch
One recent piece of advice from my therapist has stuck with me: break it down into literal terms. Ask yourself, Do I genuinely want to hook up with this person, or am I craving human connection that has nothing to do with sex?
For many women, those lines can get blurry. We grow up in a culture that often teaches us—directly or indirectly—that our desirability is tied to our value. Speaking only for myself, there have been times when I’ve subconsciously confused offering my body with finding connection. But there’s a world of difference between being present in your body, choosing intimacy because you want it, and going through the motions because you hope it will bring you closer to something you’re not even sure you’re looking for.
I include this because party girls are around people—a lot of people. We’re around flirtation, attraction, and opportunity. It’s part of the scene. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with embracing your sexuality, it’s worth checking in with yourself along the way, along with alcohol and/or any other substances. Your body deserves your attention, your care, and your honesty.
And the flip side of all of this? If you want to hook up with someone, go for it. Have fun. Kiss the stranger. My only advice is to do it intentionally. The best decisions are the ones that feel like your own.
Be the main character
My ex recently flamed me for acting like the main character. He was offended I’d been so public about our breakup, had written articles about it, and had been active on social media documenting the rebuilding of my life. This made me laugh, because what was the alternative? Ladies, it’s 2026! We’re allowed to be LOUD. We’re allowed to express ourselves.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you should be the main character in your own life—especially a woman in her twenties. We are part of the generation that allows women to live freely, openly, and independently. That is the party girl anthem: to be authentically, unapologetically yourself—and safe! Staying safe is just as important because you can’t live your best life if you’re hurting.
Some small ways I implement this on a daily basis:
Not looking down at the sidewalk when I pass a group of men. Are they staring? Who cares? Let them.
Not being embarrassed while dancing harder than other people. Cringe? Don’t know her. I call it somatic therapy.
Have the occasional drunk cigarette with your girlfriends and take aesthetic photos of each other. So what if you seem performative?
Express yourself in whatever way feels empowering. For me, it’s through writing. It’s the only space where I don’t feel like there’s a hand around my neck.
Find your art, your voice, your power—party girls need to be strong, independent, and aware.
Have a self-care ritual before the weekend — and after.
Thursdays are my everything days. Hair washed, legs shaved, nails re-painted. I clean my room and meal prep before the weekend when I could potentially be hungover and don’t feel like cooking. I know most people do this on Sunday, but a girl’s gotta set herself up for the party!
Thursdays can also include getting caught up on work or forcing yourself to finally make that appointment you’ve been putting off for a month. Use it as that last productive push of the week before you can enjoy your time and free will. It’s amazing what you can get done when you know there’s something exciting coming up.
The flip side is the Sunday comedown. Sunday scaries can hit hard. Take a really hot shower and put on clean, cozy clothes. Cook a nourishing meal and cuddle up with a good comfort show. Maybe give your parents a call. Maybe go on a short walk if the weather’s good. Best case? Take yourself on a fun, playful date. Try a new coffee shop, buy a book, paint, or see a friend with whom you always have a good time.
When it’s time to put the bottle back on the shelf, put your energy towards nourishment and reset. Charge your laptop for work tomorrow, check what time your first meeting is, and set your alarm. Get in bed early and read. For me, switching in and out of workday and weekend mode can be jarring. Having a slow comedown on Sunday can help get your mind and body ready for the week.
Find that balance!
My biggest piece of advice is to really try to find your balance—and I say this as someone who still doesn’t have hers all the time. It’s easy to get carried away, and there are risks in going out while even just a little impaired. It’s easy to romanticize the party-girl lifestyle. But there is a darker side to it, one where addiction can form or dangerous situations reveal themselves.
You can get caught up in the thrill, the invincibility of it all—but you’re not invincible, and it can catch up to you. You have to know your limits. We all have bad nights, but they should be few and far between.
Once you find that groove, feel empowered in it. Put on an amazing outfit and get out there. Youth, freedom, possibility—it fades over time. I never want to look back and think Gosh, I should have gone out more. I should have let the world see me and blown a kiss back. The blurry nights, festivals, chaotic Uber rides with your best friends—that is what being in your twenties is for! Alongside figuring out who you are, what you want to do, and who you want to be when you grow up.
Both, babe, both. Take that shot on Saturday, then lead that meeting Monday morning. True party girls are the bosses who play hard but work harder. Who’s going to fund that trip to Europe next summer? You, b*tch!
And if the partying is getting in the way of the other aspects of your life, it’s time to readjust. Make sure you’re tuned in enough to notice when it crosses over; it can be sneaky like that. The pipeline from party girl to degenerate is shorter than you think. And that’s just me keeping it real.
So my ode to the party girls? Tune in with yourself; slow down when needed. Know your limits. It’s okay to get loose, but you gotta keep it tight in other areas. And of course, have the time of your life! Duh.
