We all know that socializing benefits our mental and emotional health and is essential to our overall well-being. Yet, between work, kids, and other daily responsibilities, making time to go out, have fun, and meet up with friends is difficult.
The research is universal. Spending too much time alone is so damaging that it is now understood to be the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Virtual socializing is shown to be better than being completely isolated, but it is no match for in-person experiences.
Whether you are new to the Santa Clarita community or have been here for decades, it is always a good idea to broaden your social circle. Luckily, the SCV has dozens of clubs, bars, and restaurants that offer game nights, dancing, sporting activities, singing karaoke, and more where you can gather with friends or meet new friends.
The Paseo Club is a social club and a health and fitness community in the Santa Clarita Valley. We offer fitness, tennis, pickleball, charity, and social events throughout the year.
We know that the benefits of connecting with friends and neighbors are invaluable. In this article, you will learn about the benefits of socializing and where to find group activities you can join in the SCV.
What are the benefits of socializing regularly?
In this day and age of technology, much socializing is virtual. Keeping up with friends through social media and apps is a handy tool. However, socializing in real life offers several unique benefits that go beyond screen-based interactions.
Building social skills
Socially engaging in real life (IRL) brings up anxiety for many people. You may experience concerns about what to say, what to wear, or how you will be perceived. These can feel like minor issues or full-blown panic attack-inducing affairs.
Although you do not want to do anything that compromises your mental health, socializing with people — friends as well as strangers — helps build social skills.
- Empathy
- Listening
- Self-confidence
- Building rapport
- Reading social cues
- Maintaining eye contact
- Learning non-verbal communication
Deepen your connections
Observing facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice provides essential information about other people's emotional states. These non-verbal cues build empathy and a sense of connection. Whether you go out dancing, have deep convos over coffee, or join a friend on a morning run, in-person time fosters bonding that cannot be achieved with virtual conversations.
Create shared experiences
The richest memories come from shared experiences. These can be a casual coffee chat, a group activity, or attending an art event together. These shared moments strengthen bonds and create a sense of belonging that is hard to replicate online.
Encouraging spontaneity and fun
Real-life interactions are often more spontaneous and less curated than digital ones. This spontaneity can lead to unexpected joy, creativity, and new ideas, enriching our lives with genuine experiences that couldn’t be pre-planned.
Strengthen your emotional well-being
Research shows that socializing in person is closely tied to mental and emotional well-being. Doctors at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) connected face-to-face connections with lowered rates of depression. The benefits are long-term, lasting for years.
Feel-good hormones, including oxytocin, are released when we bond with others. This process contributes to happiness, reducing stress, and combating feelings of loneliness and depression.
In short, socializing in real life nurtures our need for connection, improves mental well-being, and enriches our lives in a way that virtual interactions simply can't replicate.
What are the 5 ways to boost your social life in the Santa Clarita Valley?
1. Karaoke
Karaoke is a fun, creative way to play as an adult. Bring out your inner rockstar and belt out your favorite hits.
- Doc's Inn is a hole-in-the-wall bar with a gritty feel. Contact them for the next karaoke night.
- The Shot Exchange is a bar and grill with karaoke nights and a DJ.
- Mabel's Roadhouse is another colorful bar with karaoke on Thursday nights.
- The Paseo Club offers free karaoke nights once a month on Friday nights at 7 pm. Available to members and the public.
- Pocock Brewing Company has karaoke every other Friday night.
2. Dancing
Get your body moving to lively music at these different dance venues.
- The Paseo Club offers line dancing every other month (November 8, 2024, and January 10, 2025, are the next two). Salsa dancing is offered once per month.
- Henry Mayo Health and Fitness teaches line dancing as part of their group exercise program.
- Arthur Murray Dance Studio offers ballroom, Latin, swing, and more at their dance studio. Singles and couples are invited.
- Pocock Brewing Company offers line dancing every other Friday night.
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3. Game and trivia nights
Try your knowledge at these local pubs and grills’s Games and/or Trivia Nights.
- Pocock Brewing Company has trivia on Wednesdays and bingo on Thursdays.
- Pocock Brewing Public House invites you to check out trivia on Tuesdays and darts on Wednesdays.
- The Local Pub and Grill has Taco Tuesday Trivia Night at 7 pm.
- Monty’s Sports Bar hosts King Trivia Night on Wednesdays at 7 pm.
4. Pickleball
Pickleball has become the most popular social sport. Hang out and watch or try your hand at this easy-to-learn court game.
- Bouquet Canyon Park is where the first pickleball courts in Santa Clarita Valley were built, and they are still one of the most popular spots.
- Canyon Country Community Center has indoor courts, though they are only regulated for pickleball at certain times. The community college is the best bet when it’s raining!
- Vista Canyon Park possesses the newest courts in the area. They host three lighted courts that are free to the public from sunrise to 10 pm.
- George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex Gymnasium hosts indoor play on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 am to 12:00 pm. $3 for adults.
- The Paseo Club has eleven lighted pickleball courts. There are also leagues, drills, and tournaments to join.
5. Hiking, walking, and running
Several wonderful hikes vary in difficulty. You can traverse Vasquez Rock’s 3.7-mile loop or head to Towsley Canyon Short Loop for a moderate 2-mile hike. Santa Clarita has twenty miles of paseos that never cross traffic, making it ideal for running, walking, and biking.
- Runners Lane invites runners to meet at various locations for prescribed runs.
- The Paseo Club has a Walking Group Exercise class every Thursday and Saturday morning where you can walk, jog, or run with other members.
Becoming a part of the SCV community
Making friends as an adult can be challenging and awkward. However, developing a sense of community and connection with others enriches your life emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Finding a way to meet new people or tend to preexisting relationships takes some effort, but the results are well worth it. Sometimes getting out of your comfort zone and routine is just the trick.
In this article, we shared five categories of activities that are fun and exciting to people of all ages and interests. These are just a few of the possibilities available to you in the Santa Clarita Valley. Don’t forget art galleries, adult education classes, the local bowling alley, and much, much more.
The Paseo Club is not only a great place to work out it is also an awesome spot to make friends and colleagues. Check out the seasonal events calendar, pickleball courts, and dining options.
If you want to be a part of a health-minded community, then the Paseo Club is your place to be. Become a member in minutes and get instant access to all eight acres of the club, including the tennis courts, junior Olympic pool, and Pilates studio. The Paseo Club is your home away from home. Join today.
