To think I'm really boring compared to most.

[Poppypopsx]

I don't know of it's because I have young kids. But I feel like I am actually really boring on paper. I'm not saying I feel bored. Usually when not locked down I'm doing school runs (1 mile each way) or seeing friends/family. Cooking or cleaning (boring) I go on holiday once a year. We do stuff with the kids at the weekend and that's about it. We can't go out often without the kids. We get an opportunity maybe once a year.

Anyhow I'm just feeling (it could be social media) that I'm a really uniteresting person now. Firstly I feel like everyone works out. Am I lazy because I just do long walks? I just don't have the desire with young kids about to do regular work outs. I've just watched sas celebrity who dares wins. I follow a couple of the staff on Instagram. Put a comment on about the show. Personal trainers started sending me requests. I accepted one and followed back. Then they unfollowed me. I bet they looked at my page and thought more chance of spotting a donut on her Instagram than a work out (haha) seriously though everyone is working out. It instantly makes them more interesting? So many people making work out videos and they look amazing. Maybe when Both kids are at school I could do it!

I feel ashamed to put I don't have any hobbies. But it's true. I like reading but have not read since having the kids. I can't bake. Although I've not massively tried. I wish I could decorate cakes and do amazing icing but I've never massively thought about it. Again amazing fancy cakes were not massively a thing when I was a kid. My friends had supermarket cakes like I did.

I can't make see, crochet, knit, paint or draw. I can't sing or play an instrument.

I'm just curious. What do you do that's interesting and talented. Also do you work out? I think i am just in a stage of life that's full on with the kids.

Is there any suggestions that I could try doing around the kids? I want to become less boring. I don't currently work as partner earns enough. I'll work when the toddler is at school.

Thanks in advance!

I am in my 40s and only started working out regularly the last 4 years as previously I was consumed by my children.

I'm not that interesting, I want to travel after this I don't have times for hobbies I do have some friends and miss them dearly because if covid.

I might be boring but I miss my boring life xx

You don't sound boring. I am certainly not an adventurer. Love a beach or a walk in the woods. Wouldn't love camping and fitness training. I'd happily do a fitness dvd Infront of the Tele but its impossible with my kids.

Even people who find cleaning fun are making it into an account so we can watch them sort the cupboards. I don't think cleaning is a hobby even if they think it is lol!!

Ha ha love your post, wish I had something interesting about me too bit the only worthy thing in my life I’d get I am a wife and mum. Would love to be able to do the cake thing, or some art, play at a concert, check in at the gym or even have an amazing girls spa day!!
I do know someone who makes beautiful cakes though and it takes ages and costs a fortune so the only reward is the ‘likes’

OP, you seem quite worried about what other people think of you. How about what you think of yourself? Are you happy with your life? If so, try to stop caring what other people think. Maybe come off social media if that isn't helping. If not, think about things that would make you happier. But not based on what other people do!

Re the following back thing, PTs and celebs often follow you to make you follow them in return to boost their numbers, then they unfollow you so it looks like they have way more followers than they are following. I promise they won't have even looked at your page. It's just a "marketing" tactic to build a following and look impressive. Forget about that.

As for hobbies, just start trying different things until you find something you enjoy.

And no, not everyone works out. I age 1 friend I follow who proper works out but every post is a video of her exercising - I'd find that more boring than your life!

I think it’s normal with young kids! Certainly was for me for a few years. Mine are 6, 4 and 1 now and I’m just starting to feel like I’m getting a life back (well, pre Covid ). For a few years I was too tired to even read! Now I’ve started running again, and going to a kettlebells class. Have got the reading bug back. Went to a few watercolour painting classes as a break from the children and really loved it so have started doing more of that.
Oh and don’t worry about the fitness trainer, that’s just their tactic for getting followers. They follow you, you follow back and then they delete. Completely standard!
Don’t beat yourself up. If you want to do something then try and find the time to do it. If you’re happy as you are for now, then that’s fine!
And I bloody hate cleaning.

The Instagram thing, you can buy 'bots' very cheaply that will pull all the profiles that have commented on a post, and then automatically follows them, then unfollows the ones who follow back. Then they look popular promoting their business as they have lots of followers. Don't take it personally!

Is there anything you’d like to do? Is it that you don’t have time to do things with the kids or that house don’t have inclination

Your lifestyle sounds pretty much the same as mine!
I do school runs, come home walk the dog, I do go running twice a week too although only once they started school as I just didn't have time before that. a lot of the time when there at school I just clean and wait around till its time to pick them up. I also work three times a week. we do stuff on a weekend, days out, like discovering new places, kids are into exploring, riding their bikes digging, looking for bugs ect we go camping and a holiday abroad every year but I have no hobbies or anything of my own. we do have the opportunities to spend time without the kids but as I work Saturdays we feel guilty to do this and like to keep Sunday as a family day, also if we did have a day on our own there's always something that needs doing in the house so instead of going for a meal we will do the house stuff we desperately need to do without the kids there.
I see people on fb all the time going to concerts, gigs, meals out, weekend trips (child free) and my life feels so boring sometimes too.

How old are you dc?

You sound the same as me, down to my only exercise being long walks (and that's because I have to because of the dog ). I feel a bit boring in myself as a person but I have no desire to try and change it right now. I'm happy that I'm in the young kids phase and there'll be time in the future to pick up some things I'd like to do.
I do read and knit when I get a chance but rarely. The thing that bothers me most is I've lost my sense of style and dislike all my clothes but feel it's somehow the wrong time/the wrong use of finances to address that. Also I have few friends and we're scattered across the country and I don't have SM so contact is fairly rare. I think I'm ok with that but just have a nagging feeling I should have a 'girl gang' that talk loads.
Tbh I think exercisng loads and talking/posting about it is reeeeeeally boring. You sound cool OP! The social rat race is a bit of a con.

I don't "work out". I go on longish, slow, runs - no more exciting than walks just (very slightly) faster. The only hobbies we really have is playing board games.

If you want to do stuff, do stuff (and don't worry about not being super talented at it, I'm sure your kids won't care if your cakes are a bit lop sided) but otherwise - enjoy being you and stay off social media!

You sound completely normal. I stopped reading for years when I had small children. I hate cooking (don’t mind baking) and can’t stand crafts. Only clean when I have to. I would love to get really fit but I don’t have the motivation and I would find a personal trainer too much pressure. I prefer social events to hobbies. Lots of people are the same, especially with all the day to day family stuff we all have on.

Yes I am fairly happy with myself. I'm not taking it too seriously. I've just noticed other people seem to work out and have hobbies on top of parenting or working.

My kids are 2 and 5. Things were getting easier until lockdown. But now I've got to keep an eye on things. If I tried to do something for me the two year old would be trying to help and the 5 year old would be whinging after ten minutes.

Hmmm I don't know really. I would like to have something in good at. I feel like if I meet someone. They say tell me about you? My life before kids I could say..I work full time. I go out to the pub for tea once a week with my friend and every couple of months I go shopping with my friend in another town or city. I had a trip to London most years too.

Now if I was asked. I would say I take my kids to the park or for walks or days out. I don't have any hobbies or rarely days that are focused on me. If that makes sense.

I'm just curious more than anything how other people are. Or is it just the social media affect.

Yeah I figured that's what the add was. Such big heads lol.

@Poppypopsx So work out! It's clearly bugging you, cos half your post was about it. You can work out at home or, it sounds like you could afford childcare while you head to the gym - once we get gyms back, obvs. I'm not sure why being fitter has anything to do with being less 'boring', though. When you describe yourself as 'boring' it makes me think you're simply bored. I loved my kids when they were little but oh man I remember how they take over your life and make you desperate for proper adult company & conversation that's not about children. Whatever you do, don't take any guilt, or guilt yourself out, about 'not looking after the kids properly' or similar thoughts. The last thing they need is an unhappy, unfulfilled mum. Looking after yourself IS looking after them.

Yeah like EdWest says, when I decided to start doing more things for me it wasn’t because I felt ‘boring’, but because I was bored!

I saw a meme a few years ago something along the lines of 'unless you've fallen off your treadmill, I'm really not interested in your exercise routine'. All these folk on social media bragging about their fitness - who gives a shite!
You don't sound boring OP. Sounds like normal life. Maybe finding a hobby that you enjoy would help.

I think you sound just fine. You're busy being a mum, just as you should be.
If you wanted to do more, how about thinking about stuff you could do with your kids. What about a bike ride with them, or doing a simple exercise routine with them joining in to make it fun for them. Get them some kids gardening tools and do some gardening with them, or learn to bake with them.

I agree, we're all mostly the same.

I'm in bed for 8pm generally most evenings, reading and watching tv. I work, I come home, I enjoy being in my home.

You just do what makes you happy.

You don't sound boring. I think as adults we've lost our hobbies. As a kids you had loads then they all dwindled away.

I like having a hobby I think it's important for my mental health, however I often get looks and comments, oh, you go to a bootcamp 3x a week how does your other half feel about that? After lockdown I'd definitely look for an activity that makes you happy and gives you me time, even if it's sitting in the park reading for an hour.

Me too.
Don’t smoke, don’t drink, I’m an antisocial introvert.
Don’t like pubs, leaving/birthday/Christmas parties.
Don’t go to any work social events.
I do work full time (I sound a joy don’t I!) but I come home, shut the door and that’s me, in with dh & my kids.

The things I do do, and really really look forward to and really enjoy is holidays and live concerts.
I’m not boring when it comes to these two things.

It’s always a bit awkward when it comes to work social events, but it’s always a firm “no thanks” from me.

Apart from mild awkwardness, I don’t give a fiddlers fart what anyone else thinks of me.

I’m the same OP, always have been.
And I don’t give a monkeys what anyone else thinks.

@crosser62 I'm abit like that. I will go to social events if it's people I mix with. But if I get invited to a person's wedding I've hardly seen then it's a no. I don't smoke. I have a drink rarely. I would drink more but I don't get much time to relax and drink so I don't.

I know half my post was about working out. I dont have any desire too. But yes if I got half an hour to myself twice a week I would follow a work out on YouTube. But that chance won't come until the kids start sleeping again and lockdown settles. It's something i am sure I will start to do when the youngest is bigger. I don't see me ever joining a gym lol! That's definitely not me. I'm not into that stuff. It just seems people have so much spare time for this stuff. But I know I'm comparing myself to celebrities and ex military people mostly.

You know how it is. Everyone on FB or Instagram has a matchy hinch home. A house in the country. A talent. Works out. I am well aware I need to get off it lol.

Do you know what. I would love a dog to walk and stuff. But I feel that needs to be when both kids are at school and older. Purely because I have this fear of a toddler annoying a dog. Mines abit wild at the moment.

I'm glad others have pointed out its normal. I am sure most normal people are not fitting all this stuff in around young kids. It just sometimes feels they are. It could be lockdown getting to me too. I don't know though.

It’s not what you “do” that makes you interesting it’s having abit of spark an interesting take on life. Often people like that do lots of stuff but not all. You can get real bores with lots of hobbies

The 'tell me about yourself' question, don't live your whole life so you feel you can answer some randomer's question in a social media approved way. You answered that by listing things you do not things you are. Hobbies don't necessarily define a person but values and uniqueness do.
Not liking formal hobbies and being laid back and family oriented is as valid as going to the gym three times a week. If you imagine a potential partner asking you, surely you'd want someone who appreciated that way of life? If you feel some more time opening up for you that you'd like to fill with something you enjoy, great! If you're happy as you are, great!