Top Groups and Clubs For Grown-ups

This blog is a way to document the transition from University life to adult life. I may only be a week in, but I think I'm doing a good job. This entry, in particular, is going to be right on the money, as one of the most challenging things that come with leaving uni life is the decrease in social life. We can't walk down the corridor or nip around the corner in your pyjamas to see your friends, more often than not they live a three-hour drive away. So new hobby and interests are needed to survive.

I've always liked the idea of going to random clubs and groups; I'd never been to any in school, so I think I grew up a bit more fascinated in them compared to my friends. Who says sports clubs are for over-achievers in high school? It's a fantastic way for us grown-ups to meet new people and connect with others. Before moving back to Birmingham, I had a brief stint living in Wales in another job, and it was so difficult not being able to interact with my mates and making friends that were like me was incredibly difficult. You always hear stories of having that first real adult experience being alone in some cruddy flat saving every penny that comes your way, and I think that was mine. My housemates were a lot older and very weird, they stole cutlery and would melt butter in coffee cups on the hob. I hated it, so finding groups like this was a release from the isolation of adult life. I made friends who had the same interests as me and could hold actual conversations with me.

Now I've moved to Birmingham. I still take the time to travel up and see my friends. But I've yet to locate any clubs near me that suit what I want to do, or I can practically travel to. So I've made a list of some amazing clubs that I want to go to, and I think you'd like to go to as well.

Book Clubs

I bloody love books, my shelves are starting to look like a community library as they get denser and denser. I have moved over to the way of the Amazon Kindle, but I invest in good books If I feel like it's worth buying the paper copy. I feel like book clubs are perfect for any reader, no matter how devoted you are. You get the chance to discover new genres and educate others on your favourites. I feel like a separate post could be made on why you should go to a book club, there is that many! 

Reading is excellent for keeping the cogs ticking and the imagination flowing, if you go to a book club, you have the chase to open up debate on some classic books (and maybe a few that you hate?). 

A lot of books that are released now have some sort of perspective on modern-day society. So instead of debating the ins and outs of politics until your ears bleed, you can discuss something more fun and relevant to you.

Board Game Nights

I'll be honest, I've never considered going to a board game night until recently. My local coffee shop stop has started running boardgames nights, as has my local library and a new board game cafe is opening up in Chester. It feels like board games have the same comeback as the polaroid camera or the record player; people are finding board games to be fun again! 

I've always thought of board games as a throwaway present from your parents; bought intending to bring families back together but more often than not, they are left gathering dust in the cupboard. 

But I'm ready to give it a shot; I like the idea of rainy days playing scrabble or even playing some new indie games. I think groups like these would attract a unique bunch of people, but is that not the best kind? 

Anyway, I feel like there's a secret revolution in our midst, scrabble and monopoly boards are being carrels dusted off and looked at with love. I'm ready for old fashioned games to make a comeback. 

Running Groups

I saw a statistic once that read "you're 60% more likely to reach your fitness goals with a friend". So why not try to join a running group? Events like Park Run, have slowly become popular in communities across the UK, and I, for one, am not mad at it. Of course, there is always the issue of being the person with the worst stamina. But, does this not motivate you? Besides Park Run, there are loads of other groups for people of all different states of health. I've found a few explicitly for the elderly, for people who want to socialise their dogs during walks and single parents looking to make playdates fun for them too. 

If you're looking to improve your health, then why not join one of these groups? The likelihood is you'll be motivated to move your ass and reach your weight goals.

Coffee Mornings

I've never been to coffee mornings myself, but I know a few freelancers and remote workers who swear by them. It's a fantastic way to meet new people and find new friends who don't work the 9-5 life. A lot of people who attend these are on maternity leave or don't have the traditional office job. The whole idea seems incredibly casual and perfect for people who don't want the pressure of a high-intensity event or group. 

A lot of independent coffee shops run events like these all the time, and co-working spaces are another excellent opportunity to interact with new people if you work from home. If there's none in your area, then why not start your own?

A similar idea is the Brunch Babes social group which pops up all over the country. It's a great way to meet people looking to find a friend, so I'm down for it.

Poetry nights

I used to attend poetry nights back at University, and I miss them so much! Every month the articulate hippies of Chester would rejoin at Hanky Panky Pancakes for a night of shit poetry and pancakes! Every time I went, I felt utterly captivated by each piece, whether it was beautifully written or not. For a lot of people, it took the courage to share their work finally, and you could tell most of the pieces were a heartfelt confession to a room full of strangers. It was a moving experience and one I would recommend going to alone.

Go Online

Social media has gotten an incredibly lousy reputation for ruining real social activities. If anything I think it's the complete opposite; while researching this blog, I discovered this brilliant website called 'Meet-Up'. Meet-Up allows users to advertise social groups like the ones I've just moaned about for over 1,000 words. It's completely free to join and will enable you to explore loads of social groups around you. I, for one, will be taking full advantage of this website from now on.

Any more clubs?

I'm keen to start a discussion on this site and would love to hear your suggestions for social clubs and networking groups. So let me know!