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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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"You're wasting your twenties, you're never going to get this time back." One Generation Z woman is tired of hearing this comment — and she has clapped back against people who think she should be going out drinking every weekend.
For Nicole Cooper, 27, the perfect way to spend an evening would be cooking dinner with her boyfriend, inviting friends over, and watching a movie. She loves the relaxed atmosphere of being in a small group of tight-knit people, but still being in bed by 10 pm with a book. For Cooper, that is sheer bliss.
In years gone by, she used to enjoy wild nights out in which she probably had a few too many drinks, but not anymore. Cooper, from Boston, Massachusetts, told Newsweek that her "idea of fun has changed" and it's evolved with her as she's grown.
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Unfortunately, not everyone is aligned with Cooper's idea of the perfect night. Indeed, she's heard from many people (usually online) that she's wasting the best years of her life, and she should be going out.
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"I think people have this idea that if you don't go crazy in your twenties, it's a missed opportunity," Cooper said. "I see a lot of content creators saying that your twenties are prime drinking years and people should get blacked out. It's as if the only way to enjoy yourself in your twenties is being in the club.
"It can be hard for people, especially in your twenties, to understand that someone can have a very different perspective from you," she continued.
Of course, some people enjoy going out to clubs and dancing until dawn, but that just isn't what Cooper, who is part of Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) wants her weekends to be about. Nowadays, she is more drawn towards "small gatherings and laid-back hangs" with her friends instead of noisy clubs where they can't hear each other.
The idea that people in their twenties should be going out and partying all the time can leave them feeling as though they're "missing out" if they stay at home. Cooper used to feel like that too, but now she's more confident in herself and loves embracing the calmer lifestyle.
She continued: "As I become happier with myself and my life, I feel less need to go crazy every weekend. There's definitely a time and place for it, as I love to dance and have a good time, but I enjoy the calm, quiet moments just as much."
Cooper has also cut back on drinking alcohol, which has helped her find more balance in her daily life. She certainly isn't alone in that choice, as the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR) highlighted rising abstention levels among Gen Z consumers.
Tracking from the IWSR, which provides consumer data and analytics, showed that 75 per cent of American Gen Zers are happy to moderate their alcohol consumption. This generational shift away from binge drinking also appears to be reshaping the industry. Many Gen Z drinkers opt for no or low alcoholic beverages as they prioritize moderation.
With the rise of social media trends and influencer culture, the IWSR suggests that lower alcohol volumes could be the future of drinking.
In response to the people who claim she's wasting her twenties, Cooper shared a video clapping back on TikTok (@nicoleee.cooper). The clip reveals how she got to sleep for 11 hours, enjoyed her favorite meal, and had a peaceful morning of feeling refreshed.
Can the people who were out at the club all night say the same thing?
The video has gone viral since it was shared on March 29, leading to more than 1.2 million views and over 222,200 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
The online reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and Cooper hopes it will encourage others to feel empowered rather than ashamed of their lifestyle.
"To each their own. There is nothing wrong with having fun in the ways that feel good to you, and this is just mine," Cooper told Newsweek.
The video has amassed over 500 comments on TikTok so far, as many social media users hailed Cooper for doing what she enjoys most.
One comment reads: "Doing things you want to do isnt a waste of time."
Another TikTok user wrote: "I hate the 'you must be at the club or you're wasting your 20s' mentality."
Another person replied: "I never found going out to be fulfilling. I rather spend time with my husband and family."
While one commenter added: "True freedom is to waste time in ways you enjoy."
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