Anyone else not like doing anything?

Kind of.

I like pottering around my house.
I like reading.
I like watching tv.
I like cooking
I like board games

But I do need to get out the house each day. I enjoy a leisurely trip to the supermarket, but I HATE clothes shopping or any other type of shopping.

Concerts, festivals, no no no. Hate it.

Cinema I do like, in theory, in practice I do check my watch a lot to see when it’s over and I can go home, even if I like the film.

Museums and art galleries I love.

Days out with young kids - hated them. Mine are older now, but the type of day you described, with the boats etc would have been hell for me. I did them, I did all kinds of days like that, but two of my kids are neurodivergent and even the simplest, most straightforward of activity would be totally fraught.

I can remember choosing very simple activities that they couldn’t get “wrong”, and within about 30 seconds, lo and behold, they were doing the wrong thing and everybody was crying. For example, taking them to a big softplay where they could go wild to their hearts content, but all they wanted to do was swing on the magnetic safety gate to such a degree that we just had to leave. Or one boat trip where they wouldn’t stop putting their hands in the water right next to the propeller thing, despite me telling them repeatedly that it would chop their hand off.

So I guess that’s why I hated any outing and maybe I’m still recovering from those years to be honest, because they were both traumatic and draining.

So I can relate, to an extent, but I think you are somewhat extreme as you don’t even like reading.

This sounds like most men

I wonder if this isn't an ADHD trait? I get bored easily which make me lack interest in things, not initially but once the novelty wears off. Also the amount of effort it takes to execute things is exhausting so it ruins the enjoyment.

Hmm... maybe!

I was entertained by her post - it was hard to tell whether some was tongue-in-cheek. I agreed with organised fun being generally not fun!

The part about low motivation to try new things was a bit more worrying. But maybe her day-to-day life is geared to what she likes already, and maybe familiar routine is gratifying. It's horses for courses. I don't think she was implying that she finds her life meaningless, or that it is meaningless.

I don't think so (I also read this and thought it was interesting). An otrovert is someone who is a free thinker, rebellious, an outsider but this requires the person to have their own independent thoughts, ideas and drives. OP doesn't sound like this at all. She is just someone who think very much about anything in any depth and doesn't enjoy doing anything.

What she actually sounds like to me is a bit of a nihilist (albeit one who presents very conventionally).

I've just thought of this and think the OP might fit the profile: Are you an otrovert? Why this personality type could be your greatest gift | Psychiatry | The Guardian

Very interesting!

My mum was friendly and outgoing. And I used to be too, chasing experiences. I am not sitting indoors watching tv and reading the paper. I have met a friend for coffee and walked my dog, stopping to chat to people. I am going to a party tomorrow.

I am talking about hobbies, taking up new interests, going to events, day trips out, that sort of thing. Maybe I'm just not explaining it very well. I am happy at home, in my locality, seeing a few long standing friends.

But I am not into doing "stuff".

I'm not in the slightest bit angry. Having an opinion on something doesn't make you angry. It's a discussion board: opinions are sought. The OP asked a question, I volunteered my opinion, as did others.

Why are you so angry about it?

To me it sounds more as if you grew up around an adult who modelled that being completely disengaged from the world and friendless, just sitting zoned out with the newspaper and tv sport, for an entire lifetime was normal, so you grew up thinking it was normal too. Or you have a heritable MH condition.

Are you tired? I’m like this recently. I don’t want to do anything but lie down.

Not necessarily. My dad had no hobbies other than watching football on tv and reading the paper. He never had friends, just wasn't interested. Didn't do any exercise. Didn't go to the pub, day centres etc. He lived alone after caring for my mum who had dementia. He was completely independent right up to the end. He died aged 91.

It’s not that you don’t like doing anything as much as you appear to like doing nothing. That’s fine I guess as long as you stay physically and mentally active, otherwise you’ll decline quite sharply in old age.

That's me too. I like going to a quiet Air BnB but will pretty much do the same things there. My menial job is noisy and hard on the feet and knees so I like a quiet life!

How can people have no hobbies or interests in life, it does make you dull.
One life. Live it.
Who wants to talk about families all the time?

I think you have misunderstood, or maybe I didn't make it clear.

I am perfectly happy. I just don't particularly want to do activities. I meant that I am happy pottering about at home, not going out on jaunts or taking up hobbies. I go to the cinema and gym because I think it's good for me. But I don't love it.

I used to be constantly chasing around after experiences but then I realised I was happier at home - with my husband and dogs.

I think if you’re happy then what does it matter what makes others happy.

As a bit of an introvert, I used to be like this. But honestly there’s nothing like hearing live music. Most of the time it’s not terribly crowded either and usually a really nice friendly vibe in the venue.

Im pathetic I know, but my ex introduced me to this particular activity and one of the things I really miss being single. Hopefully at some point I can get enough courage to go alone.

Don’t you ever worry what impact it has on your husband and family if you say you aren’t interested in anything? Do you have children? Would you tell them you are not interested in anything?

If a member of my family said that to me I would worry about their mental health. I would honestly feel quite offended, too, and would feel like it was a rejection of our lives together if there was nothing enjoyable about life.

Its not really about needing “external stuff”… its about engaging with the world and other people in a way which is mutually beneficial and enriching.

I cant see the point of being alive if you take no enjoyment from the world or other people.

I am forever telling my husband there's nothing I'm particularly interested in. I do things like going to the gym, to the cinema, but it's more to fill time than anything else. But I am completely content. My dad was the same. I reckon it's a kind of achieving enlightenment state where you don't need external stuff to feel fulfilled.

Im struggling to fathom what 'my family' means in context of enjoyment.

My teens spend all day occupying themselves, i'm divorced but live with an elderly parent.. and we do sit in quiet comfortable silence, but both enjoy watching the quizzes on TV, and Detective/murder mystery thriller programs, we both read, we do lego and jigsaws together, discuss the news and videos from social media (yes she does use SM at 72), we like going out to dinner as much as cooking together., we like gardening together... but OP doesn't like going out for meals even...

The housework gets done, the shopping gets done.. there in completes family life.

IF the OP said she enjoyed watching TV with her spouse, or films or something it wouldn't be so bad.. but until she clarifies what comes under 'family life' it's hard to gauge what, if anything, she does enjoy.

What is she doing at Church? Talking to people? Just attending services, singing some hymns and coming straight home? What is she doing in the evening once the work is done and the kids are in bed? Stare into space or just go to bed?

Work, Church, Domestic Drudgery being the be all and end all of your life is not healthy.

And the day she describes herself as ‘95% violently disliking’ in her OP was a family day out, presumably with young children, as it involved pedalboats and trampolining. So even enjoying time with her family seems to be strictly conditional and only if they stay at home.

Exactly. And while in fairness the OP seems to have taken this one for the team in good spirits it cant be great for the kids to be vaguely aware that their mum violently hates doing anything other than existing.

What sort of message does that send?

And the day she describes herself as ‘95% violently disliking’ in her OP was a family day out, presumably with young children, as it involved pedalboats and trampolining. So even enjoying time with her family seems to be strictly conditional and only if they stay at home.

All the replies are " I enjoy quiet pursuits like X" but OP does not enjoy anything. That is the point of the thread.

Yes I think some people are missing the point, this isn’t an extrovert v introvert thread and theres absolutely nothing wrong with a quiet and contemplative life. There are plenty of people who like reading or watching tv or gardening but not socialising or playing sports or going to museums. Thats all fine and good.

The OP (by her own admission) enjoys doing literally nothing, except, “my family”, which is meaningless in this context as presumably to enjoy your family you have to be doing something with them and not just be catatonically absorbing them.

It just suggests someone who is either depressed or who has been socialised to believe that she isn’t allowed to enjoy anything other than her family. Either way it doesn’t sound very happy or healthy.

‘Simple life” is what life used to be like before the modern busyness took over. It was completely normal to be content with daily routines without seeking stimulation from days out, fun activities etc. As long as you feel content I don’t see anything wrong with it. I personally never get bored and I’m quite happy spending days at home. I do love reading though.