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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to hate going for walks?

181 replies

junebaby2020 · 19/02/2021 15:44

I'm still on maternity leave and DH is on furlough. We try to get out for a walk with our 8 month old most days so they can get a change of scenery and some fresh air.

However, I just can't stand going out - I hate the miserable cold weather, the fucking relentless grey skies and the boring, concrete, suburban area we live in with very little to see or do, particularly as everything is shut due to lockdown.

I just feel so lethargic, dread the thought of walking anywhere (it seems like so much effort to walk walk walk for an hour or two) and just CBA - I'd much rather sit at home on the sofa with a cuppa and some biscuits and put my feet up.

Is it normal to feel like this or am I exceptionally lethargic/lazy?

OP posts:

rawalpindithelabrador · 19/02/2021 16:14

@Notanotherhun

Literally agog. So much you can do of a walk. Do a nature spot, look for the first signs of spring, count colours of cars, greet other people and their dogs. I mean it's not the same as normal but it is what you make of it. If you've got children, then skip, run, hop skotch or even play follow the leader. Me and my little one walk past the garage on our way to the local fire station and he will happily watch and chatter about what he sees. And that's within 10 mins of the house. It's all in the attitude, if you are negative about exercise and walking then it's hardly surprising if your children are they same.

FFS, people who have young kids forget that not everyone does. My kids are teens/older teens, counting car colours and fecking skipping is long in their past. So glad I don't have to put up with chattering and nursery crap anymore and thankfully, with bloody walks anymore, either.

Miss the gym and classes at the gym, my yoga ashram, going for long walking routes with female friends and having a blast hanging out in the evening drinking wine, bowling club, ballroom dancing with DH, anything but a fucking walk.

singme · 19/02/2021 16:14

But YANBU because we are all different!

Notanotherhun · 19/02/2021 16:15

Lockdown is shit. Anybody on the gin yet? Or is it too early?

Morana23 · 19/02/2021 16:16

I used to love walking, it honestly was my favourite part of life - it used to feel like an escape to me, throwing on my scruffiest clothes and heading up to the woods (usually hardly anyone there) my very boisterous boys running around climbing trees, Springer spaniel bouncing around in tow. It felt like a welcome break from stuff I had to make an effort for - shopping, kids parties, meals out with family/friends, school/work events etc.
Almost a year down the line I feel fucking sick of walking. And it pains me to feel that way but without all that other stuff to 'need a break' from it's just monotonous and boring. Boys moan about going and don't want to play around/climb trees anymore. They don't want to go every day anymore and neither do I. Having the dog helps as he obviously still needs to go out every day, but often DH takes him alone which never happened before as we all loved going.
No more travelling to exciting new places to explore. Same handful of local places again and again, which are now swamped with people (who also probably don't want to be there) and resulting litter.
It's just shit.

BadBear · 19/02/2021 16:18

I am 100% with you.

Firstly, it is my least favourite form of exercise so can't even justify it that way. I would rather do a million different workouts at home.

I love walking about when the weather is nice and I don't feel like I am limited to my local area. It almost feels like a chore going for a walk these days and much like you I would just rather not. And I am the least lethargic/lazy person you will ever come across.

ProperVexed · 19/02/2021 16:19

@Notanotherhun Ooh, thanks, I'll join you ( while I plan tomorrow morning's walk along the river. I saw an otter this morning!)

peak2021 · 19/02/2021 16:19

I like a walk and am able to vary where I go so there is no monotony. Though not for everyone I acknowledge. What I think matters is exercise and fresh air, which can be from gardening as an example if you have one.

Ijustknowitstimetogo · 19/02/2021 16:20

@Notanotherhun

Walking is wonderful, it really does one the world of good to get out and get fresh air and the blood pumping. I have been exploring all the streets and places around my area. Can't get bored when lots to see, maybe look for birds? If you get out early you can enjoy the birdsong.

So true. I make sure I go out at least once a day. The birdsong is so beautiful. This last week you can really hear the birdsong has ramped up as spring is approaching.

You can hear those Great Tits have started their sharp high pitched 2 note call going: tee-cher tee-cher tee-cher tee-cher.

rawalpindithelabrador · 19/02/2021 16:20

@Notanotherhun

Lockdown is shit. Anybody on the gin yet? Or is it too early?

I've got the wine chilling. Nope, not too early.

Miss travelling to long walks, like doing the Pennine in sections, but miss kettlebell classes, swimming (no, I don't want to swim in open, freezing water, fuck that), the gym, yoga with others and a teacher there, bowling club, dancing with DH and other couples, etc.

GintyMcGinty · 19/02/2021 16:22

I hate them.

But I do generally feel better after going for one.

Having said that I have only managed one this week.

dividedwefall · 19/02/2021 16:24

You are not alone. We're fed up of traipsing around in the cold, listening to my kids moan. We live in the countryside which sounds better than the city, except there are fast roads, few paths and tons and tons of mud everywhere. To get to somewhere nice to walk you have to drive and everywhere is so busy you can't get parked.

It's crap.

Notanotherhun · 19/02/2021 16:27

Agree! I have a cluster of daffodils about to open and this morning I saw the most beautiful little fledgling, feathers as soft as anything. And I live on the edge of a housing estate so every house has a garden to spot little birds in. My favourite to spot is a Robin, such a beautiful song.

VeryScary · 19/02/2021 16:27

I love walking but I’m lucky enough to live in gorgeous countryside. Don’t think I’d feel the same if I was somewhere else.

rawalpindithelabrador · 19/02/2021 16:29

Robins are thugs. They eat butterflies. I'm just waiting for that annoying cuckoo to come back, fucking parasite, literally.

Washimal · 19/02/2021 16:31

I do actually like going for a walk, but this year has sucked the joy out of it.

Completely agree. There is a big difference between going for a walk because you just happen to fancy going for a nice walk and going for a walk because it is literally the only thing you're legally permitted to do outside your own four walls and has been on and off for almost a year. We're lucky to live in a pretty area with quite a lot to look at and a year ago I really appreciated that but I've reached a point now where every time DH says "shall we go for a walk?" I want to scream.

lazylinguist · 19/02/2021 16:31

I love walking, but I live in a beautiful rural area and have a big, energetic dog who needs lots of exercise. Umpteen lively walking routes from the house and a gazillion more if you drive a little way. I do between 3 and 5 miles about 5 times a week and occasionally up to 10.

But YANBU. I really don't understand why it appears to be expected that everyone should suddenly love going for a walk just because there's a pandemic. I wouldn't enjoy traipsing around a boring, concrete suburban area either, OP. I'd probably still do it for the exercise though tbh, because I'm used to it now and would feel really unfit.

Notanotherhun · 19/02/2021 16:31

@rawalpindithelabrador

Robins are thugs. They eat butterflies. I'm just waiting for that annoying cuckoo to come back, fucking parasite, literally.

Cats are worse. They eat birds.

Globe22 · 19/02/2021 16:32

I'm fed up of walks too, the same streets, same park. It is not just about attitude it is just fucking boring! I would like to have a stroll, with a couple of friends, traipse across some fields and then go to the pub, anything else just shit quite frankly. I don't think i will go for a walk after this for a long time unless it is to go to the pub.

GintyMcGinty · 19/02/2021 16:33

If you've got children, then skip, run, hop skotch or even play follow the leader.

No I am not going to do this. I'd rather take to alcohol.

Fuckadoodledoooo · 19/02/2021 16:34

@GintyMcGinty

My kids are as miserable as me anyway.

Macncheeseballs · 19/02/2021 16:34

I'm sure you'd miss it if you couldn't

Tartyflette · 19/02/2021 16:34

YADNBU. I hate walking too. Always have, always will. It's tedious, my back hurts and my knees hurt. And I loathe the cold and wind too.
I Live in the country so it's nice and scenic but i'd far rather drive somewhere (in normal times, so the Covid police can bore off) to admire the view than walk to it.

I might, just might, go for a 15 minute stroll on a lovely warm summer's evening but that's it.

starsparkle08 · 19/02/2021 16:36

I love walking so struggle to understand . However you mentioned you walk for an hour or two . Why not go on shorter walks as walking for that amount of time if you don’t like it will only put you off more

Hohofortherobbers · 19/02/2021 16:37

I hear you, walking in this weather is miserable and we're bored of the same places, but I have recently been introduced to geocaching and this has revolutionised our walks, kids are so excited to go now.

BrownEyedBlonde · 19/02/2021 16:37

I’ve been going out for a walk with DS at about 6ish in the evening, we’ve loved it. He’s actually surprised me as usually it’s hard to motivate him into coming with me. It’s really quite peaceful and think we just enjoy feeling anonymous.

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