Is anyone else just not outdoorsy/low energy

[Notadame]

I see so many people saying they love hiking, being outside in nature etc etc. I just cannot relate. I would love to feel like that but I simply don't. I like being indoors, or maybe on a warm day in my garden where I can pop in and out to the kettle and so on.

I can't imagine being the type of person who would enjoy donning my wet weather gear and trudging out in the woods in the pissing rain for instance.

I force myself to go out because it's good for my health (and for my kids), but I can't say it ever makes me happier than sitting at home with a tea and a book would.

Anyone else?? I seem to be surrounded by outdoorsy types 🤣

I'm an indoors and physically lazy person too. I force myself to go out, but I'm usually happiest indoors. Unfortunately, DH and DD very much love hiking.

I also don't drive so I walk everywhere anyway.

DH is very keen on going for woodland walks a lot and I always go but am mostly like, yes, ok, lots of wet leaves. Same trees I saw yesterday. Very nice.

I also agree. I cant think of anything worse than hiking up a trail in the bloody rain. That sounds like hell to me.

However, a daily walk in nature in the park under sun dappled trees with my dog significantly lifts my mental health and is like therapy to me. Its beautiful. I also like running too- also helps mental and physical health.

Huge middle ground here between living in the great outdoors and never leaving your sofa.

I know that, I was merely asking if anyone else was, like me, not bothered about going outside even when it's nice.

I don't never leave my sofa, I'm out every day. I simply don't enjoy it.

Is there anything outside you enjoy? even a gentle walk?

You dont have to force yourself of course but if you want to be able to enjoy it I would say do it more often. Eg I used to really hate the taste of fish but its so good for your body that I kind of made myself eat it and now I absolutely and genuinely love it and would choose it on a menu

Being an introvert has nothing to do with not liking going for a walk. It just mean that being with people exhausts you.

I know lots of introverts who enjoy walking. DH is an introvert and he loves to go out for a walk on his own.

Yep- I am an introvert. A walk with other people having to make small talk - no thanks. A walk on my own to be with my own thoughts - yes please, love it

Depends on the weather.

I like hikes, I like being in nature, getting fresh air and the sun on my skin, I'm quite sporty and if I don't exercise I feel quite mentally lumpen. I wouldn't consider myself low-energy.

I refuse to go outdoors in the rain unless I have to, though, and in the winter I enter full hibernation mode, which is as described in the OP (this has happened this very week in fact). I will still force myself to exercise etc but I go from enjoying every minute to loathing every minute. I certainly wouldn't leave the house "just for a walk" in this temperature.

I’m not low energy- I love being out and about, go to the theatre and galleries a lot, work in an office, rarely have a day at home, do home exercise DVDs and do a lot of walking just buzzing around in day to day life, but I would pay good money not to go hiking even in good weather. It’s so bloody boring and yes, I would much rather read a book.

I'm glad the puddle suit brigade haven't picked up on this. Walking in the pouring rain is not a pleasure. It is an endurance test. As a glasses wearer it is even more hard work.

Urgh yes. I remember a thread about a year ago where people were saying it getting darker and the constant grey rain was really affecting their mental health.

Cue someone popping up saying how ecstatic it was to go "splashing in puddles" in the bitter cold and rain. Yeah, because local parks are simply rammed with people queuing up to splash in puddles every winter arent they? 🙄

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who actively chooses to go walking in the woods in the pouring rain for fun.

But it is unusual not to want to leave the house at all. (Except perhaps on MN where a high percentage appear to be "introverts" who like being cosy at home and nothing else). Being out and connected to nature can be fabulous, we go geocaching which is like a walk with a purpose most weekends when it's dry and we have discovered so many amazing places, seen gorgeous scenery and seen otters, kingfishers, buzzards and loads more. Never wanting to leave the house and do anything to me says that you are not curious about the world around you, and seeing what's out there.

I like crafts and cups of tea too, but there's a balance.

I love this thread I often feel very “lazy” for loving being at home and enjoying my own company. I don’t feel the need to go for a walk or enjoy nature and I will go out to the shops school runs and other activities the younger kids have but I spend most of my time alone and home.
If there are extremes of weather like storms I love thunder and lightning , snow , even the occasional heat wave then I feel the need to be out in it. My older dc laugh when we have thunderstorms as they know I will be out in the garden bundled up watching it. ( they think I’m nuts) .
when I am out I am highly sociable and the life and soul but I find it exhausting people like colleagues don’t realise that I’m like this at home , Only my family . I have no close friends as I find that also to be exhausting.
Now being assessed at doctors request for Audhd, so I guess she felt these kids of things were symptoms. 😂
P.S I am happy today as I have a day of sofa , reading , mooching about and general relaxation and it’s freezing and raining outside . Bliss ☔️

I get very antsy if I’ve not been out. We have a dog so have to anyway. Love a walk with people or without people. Love a climb up a hill, it does Have to be perfect weather. Love the outdoors. Love a city too. Too long on the couch isn’t good for me….I get down and introspective, not in a good way.

but each to their own.

I get exhausted just reading that. Each to their own though like you say we do what makes each of us happy and fulfilled.

I love both. I work outdoors so am out in all weathers for 5/6 hours a day, Monday through Friday. As a result I’m quite happy to spend my weekends indoors on the sofa 😂

But if I spend more than 3-4 days like that, it starts to have a negative impact on my mental health and I get irritable and restless.

Physically it’s not great to shut yourself up indoors either - we need fresh air, sunshine, vitamin D and human contact to be healthy. People talk about processed foods and UPF’s but being sedentary is really not good for you. You need to keep moving and use your joints and muscles while you’re young otherwise you’ll struggle as you age.

If I dont have to I dont leave my house.

I am quite content with my books and my family ☺️

Surely there has to be a balance?

Being outside in nature has undoubtedly many health benefits... but so does a day spending horizontally on the sofa with a good mini series or book.

But nope, I simply couldn't spend my free time day in day out on the sofa.

I don't do this, I just would if I could!

I like leaving the house to go to a cafe for tea and cake, or to a friend's house for dinner or tea and cake.

Those are the things I will look forward to leaving the house for 🤣

I go for a walk every day, I don't drive so I walk everywhere. I'm always well over 10k steps.

I feel like a lot of people are confusing me saying I prefer to be indoors with me saying I never leave the house. Totally untrue.

Yeah, I'm not really outdoorsy at all. I don't mind a walk round the block or a stroll to the local shop, but hiking up hills and the like? Nah, you're good thanks.

I'm happy to BE outdoors, but I've no interest in exerting myself out there!

I know what's out there - woods, trees, fields, mud, birds, other people's dogs getting in my face, cities, crowds, public transport, cafes, farms, zoos, aquariums, museums, restaurants, mountains and hills, baby groups, soft play, shops and libraries.

I love a nice cafe, a restaurant WITHOUT my children and an afternoon at a library or a small museum. And I do go to everywhere else on that list. It's just that I prefer to be at home.

On balance however I prefer a city walk to a country walk. There's only so many times I can look at clusters of trees and fields that all look the same, otters or no otters.

I think 'not outdoorsy' and 'low energy' are two different things. I know people who aren't remotely outdoorsy, but go to the gym for a punishing workout daily, or take an indoor exercise class, or more than one, or go swimming.

Yes you’re right - I’m outdoorsy but low energy. I love being outside and my mood hugely improves after some fresh air, but for me it’s the effort of getting dressed, packing a bag (depending on where going), getting kids ready etc - if I could snap my fingers and be showered, dressed and outside already, I would spend little time indoors.