Hyped-up activities that are actually shite.

[DarkestBerty]

Loads of my friends do yoga. It's really relaxing, they say. It's really mindful, they say. It's a good workout without realising you're working out, they say. It's a really nice community of people, they say.

So on Saturday morning I tried it.

It was bloody awful. Everything about it was bloody terrible. It wasn't remotely relaxing or mindful. I wasn't a very good workout and the people were cult-loke lunatics.

And I've felt a bit lightheaded, dizzy, and just not quite myself ever since.

Tell me about activities that everyone seems to have a wide-on for, but which you hated.

Sunbathing. Absolutely cannot fathom it.

Probably related is boring holidays where you go to one hotel and just stay there for an entire week or more, eating and drinking and lying by a pool.

Also cycling. Staring at tarmac whilst breathing in exhaust fumes and tying not to get hit by cars. I'd much rather take a spin class then go for a nice walk where I can enjoy countryside views and fresh air.

Love yoga though, and love love love pilates.

Me too! I have tried the followiing:

swimming, like being in the water bur hate the changing in and out of my costume, the effect of chlorine on my hair, and skin despite using stuff to counteract it. hate the pool when it is crowded, hate having to wash my costume and towel when I get in
Yoga, bored and my mind wanders and I can't focus on the instuctions
Belly dancing: I am uncordinated and again I found the instructions hard to follow and retain in my head. Practised like mad at home but had to accept that I am uselss
Weights: did like the feeling of getting stronger but gave up as I am basically idle
Walking: used to walk eveywhere but I have a painful leg and nothing helps and the doctor is not intersested, have been in pain for over 6 yeas now
Gardening when my hayfever is at its height I feel as if my throat is closing over, anti-histamines take the edge off but do not fully relieve it. I also have horrible neighbours who make so much noise all day every day which means I don't like being out in my yard
Resistance bands and kettle bell at home Do this now again following YouTube videos, again boredom and laziness are my enemy

Another vote for afternoon tea. I’d never been to one but went a couple of weeks ago with about a dozen others. Six tiny sandwiches, all with mayonnaise on (yuk), two slices of quiche (yuk), two slices of anaemic pork pie, two scones which were so well done I initially thought they were Yorkshire puddings (and fruited - yuk), and two chocolate cakes an inch square. This sorry repast was considered sufficient for two people. Along with a bottle of wine each - which was tucked into with gusto by other people at the table, their purses less so - this cost my mother-in-law and I £110 between us. Never again, it was an absolute rip off and I was bloody starving.

Anything badged as a ‘treat’. Bottomless brunch with its watered down cocktails and shite food, afternoon tea (what psychopath eats all of a pile of sandwiches, a scone, and a rake of cakes in one sitting? I like my food and I’m no slenderina, but even I couldn’t pile that much stodge down my neck in one sitting). Spa days - getting your back cleansed, toned, and moisturised for £130 then spending the rest of the day rolling round the pool, sauna, and steam room with the regular hotel guests (you might get an afternoon tea thrown in if you’re lucky).

Cat cafés. I once spent £25 for the ‘pleasure’ of eating an ‘afternoon tea’ that I’m pretty sure came directly from Tesco, in the presence of half a dozen knackered moggies. I’d much rather have just donated the money directly to the charity.

I hate yoga, I can't be doing with all the ritualising that goes with it, my class leader used to go on about ' the light of my heart to your heart' and it just made me cringe 🙄 no one else around me seemed bothered so I giessed it wasn't for me.

Axe throwing.

I have been to a rubbish bottomless brunch and a really nice one.

Another vote for bottomless brunch. Not very good food and not very good drinks, it’s basically just day drinking with a time limit. Except some of them are in the evening so it’s not even brunch! I’ve seen themed ones and the idea of hearing a room full of drunk people singing along to Disney tunes at midday does not appeal

going for long walks. Or any walks. I hate it

Never been keen and am really dreading it this year as have had a shocking death in my close family. The mere thought of Christmas 2025 fills me with fear as to how we are going to cope. I am deep in grief and cry most days, I want to hide away from mid October onwards and sleep until it is over.

Acupuncture. Hated it.

I hate gigs, pantos, theatre etc.
Sat squashed in a chair practically touching someone else for hours on end feeling uncomfortable. People recording on phones, drinking. Every event I’ve ever watched has been ruined by strangers!

I also hate swimming, the cold and the sharing of water makes me feel sick

Hate it, have tried it three times so feel I have given it a fair go,

Christmas markets - used to be good but now it’s the old overpriced tat on every stall and a tenner for a small mug of mulled wine.

Running.

Baking banana bread.

Decorating the house in fifty shades of white and calling it a ‘scandi’ theme by adding a couple of plants. I got this isn’t an actual activity but a lot of people seem to repaint it once a year.

Oh bloody Christmas markets! the one where I live starts in bloody November and runs alongside a Winter Wonderland and the whole thing goes on for almost two bloody months. Overpriced rides, overpriced food and drink, and endless tat on sale. The local media website runs at least one feature on the bloody thing every day for the whole run up to Christmas. I know I do not have to read it and generally I don't but the whole thing feels so endless and so contrived.

To be fair, I’ve never heard Secret Santa being hyped. It’s almost always talked about as one of those things you do because it’s a bit crap!

therapy. I've lots of friends who seem to be dependent on it to cope with life. I thought it might help me with some anxiety I was having. It made me so stressed out and anxious.

Festivals are too loud and uncomfortable for my liking
Nye is too much pressure

All of the above and I would add crazy golf.

I hate exercise...but yoga I actually like! Mainly because some of the poses you can do sitting down 😂
I don't get the hype around Disney. Adult couples going on Disney cruises??
And autumnal decor. Why do I need to decorate my house in new stuff just for a season?!

Silent discos

Ten pin bowling

Axe throwing

What a great thread, it is making me feel normal and a lot less of a kill joy. All of the things that I personally hate I have tried and some of them I have tried more than once so feel justified in hating them or simply not getting the point of them. I really believe in giving things a go because I always live in hope that I will find new stuff to enjoy

Yoga is amazing. YABU sorry 😂

Afternoon tea. I wished I'd gone to the pub instead!

Christmas

I find that all kid-oriented days out such as Peppa Pig World, Lego Land, Disney land etc. don't bring the children any more joy than a free day out in nature, like a walk in the woods. They cost soo much and everyone just ends up overstimulated and exhausted.