I would say stay the hell away from the party scene. Anything you put in front of your goal and especially something like that whether it's too much gambling too much food too much cold beers on the weekend - anything that you put in front of the prize is going to end up getting in the way and hurting you in the end.
A stale article if you dip it in a good warm sunny smile will go off better than a fresh one that you've scowled upon.
Wear a smile and have friends wear a scowl and have wrinkles.
A smile abroad is often a scowl at home.