Party Pandemonium ‐ the Phenomenon of Binge Partying After Lockdown

Something’s in the air, and it feels a lot like the start of the roaring 20s. 

Over a month since lockdown has fully lifted in the UK, we’re witnessing an alluring party-frenzy. In fact, scenes all around the globe, from New York to Berlin to Mykonos, are showing us a newfound appreciation for the freedom of partying hard. 

Music festivals are lighting up around the world, and local nightclubs are already overwhelmed by the numbers of takers. Partying is finally facing its long-awaited revival. And people aren’t holding back.

Numbers are soaring like never before, and it almost feels like there’s an unspoken need to go out and find a dance floor. 

We’re here to unpack the reasons for the phenomenon of binge partying after lockdown. 

First of all, it’s deeper than just partying

It’s important to understand just why humans love dancing and partying so much. The easy answer is: It’s fun. But it’s actually deeper than that.

Evolutionary studies indicate that dancing rhythmically together was in fact an age-old way for humans to bond.

The sense of a shared energy running through a crowd of people makes them feel closer, even if they’re all strangers.

After months locked away, one of the things we longed for most was human connection. 

Also, dancing itself is therapeutic. All the pent up frustrations, anxieties and worries about the outside world seem to disappear when you’re moving to your favourite song surrounded by your favourite people. You finally get the chance to release. And god knows we all need a release after lockdown.

Making up for lost time

When life had to be put on hold for the sake of general health and safety, we missed out on so many could’ve-been memories. There were no cosy house parties with friends, no ringing in your ears as you walk home from the club, and definitely no new encounters with a possible lover on the dance floor. 

One of the thoughts that troubled us most during the months spent in lockdown was: is this really the end of having fun? And if so, do I feel like I had enough of it?

The worry that we had already lived the most enjoyable nights of our lives, and that we were going to stay in lockdown for the foreseeable future was intolerable. Many young people felt like they were wasting their best years holed up in their rooms, forced to act like virtual Zoom drinks on a Saturday night in your PJs were normal.

The pandemic has taken a lot from us. Freshers’ missed out on socializing and meeting friends, young adults felt friendless and more isolated than ever, and the general population faced a halt to all non-virtual fun. 

It’s bad enough that we were forced into a state of perpetual FOMO for over a year. Now that lockdowns are lifting worldwide, it feels like the second chance we’ve all been waiting for. And revellers are definitely not letting it go to waste. 

Future anxieties 

It’s sort of one of those situations where you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. And if it comes back, you’re going to spend the rest of your life worried that you’ll lose it again.

We’re ecstatic that we have the freedom to get dressed up, ride the bus into the city and find the next wildest club. But with all this happiness comes a creeping fear: what if this freedom doesn’t last?

With unclear, back-and-forth restriction policies in countries worldwide over the past year and a half, and the pandemic still not fully subsided, many have fears that lockdowns can still make a comeback.  

We’re trying to make the most out of what we have, while we have it.

All we have is now.