AIBU to hate going for walks?

[junebaby2020]

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?

Lots of threads about this, many people feel this way. I’m one of said people, it’s just boring now and cold and grey and miserable which doesn’t help.

If you don’t have nice areas to walk in I can see why it’s a chore not a joy.

Ive stopped bothering going out. We’re surrounded by fields and woods here but it’s all liquid mud right now. Fuck that.

Can you get on a bus or train to an area with a park, lake, wood, wildlife area ?

I'm a support worker. Because no-where is open the only social activity open to those I support is going for a walk....I've been on 4 today with 4 different people....I am so fed up of it as are they.

I love walking and have gone out every day for a walk since the first lockdown, even if it’s just for 30 mins. I take my daughter also who is 5. For me it’s been so important. My husband mostly joins us if he can. Teen sons not so much !

I live in an area of heavy clay mud and have been driving to experience the joys of soggy loams and hummus for a bit of variety.

I used to love walking. I will get it back too, but it's ben absolutey joyless over the winter. The worst mud I have known in 6 years of cross-country trail running because the ground has been so pulverised by increased footfall.

I don't really resent that the world and his dog is out; there is nothing better to do, but walking/ running is not my alone time anymore and it gets bloody tedious that I'm constantly having to slow up or "excuse me" past people ambling slowly and blocking the whole bloody path as efficiently as they can.

So many places have become no-go because of the mud or just irritatingly busy to try and get a good pace through.

And to the poster who thinks it's an attitude problem and that skipping and hopscotch is the solution, I'll lend out my dyspraxic, autistic 10 yo...

Nature is begining to wake-up, but there was precuous little entertainment value in it Nov to mid-Feb.

I'm looking forwards to hitting the empty fields and appreciating nature in late spring when it's dried up and everyone's back in the pubs and shops where they belong

I'm the same with running. I hate it. That said, if I endure half an hour of misery I do feel better for the remaining 23.5 hours of the day (apart from when I am asleep, obv). On that basis, I aim to walk most days and run about 4 days a week

I’ve got a dog and live in a flat so have gone out for at least 5 walks a day for the last 10 years. If I’m walking just for pleasure, I at least expect there to be nice cafe or a pub at the end of it.

I love a walk, if it's at adult pace (enough to be slightly out of breath), at least half an hour, and has a purpose (school pick up, deliver a birthday card, pop into town, etc). Walking in the rain at a snails pace with a moaning 7yo, and having to walk through every puddle, inspect every leaf, collect and carry home every muddy pebble.... Not so much. Can't even walk with a friend as I have no one to leave DD with, and the rules don't allow us both to walk with another adult. I'll definitely enjoy my first solo walk when the schools reopen!

Agreed, when it’s all you can do it does suck any joy out of it. Especially when you have a baby, because in normal times you’d be possibly be going to baby classes, going round shops, sitting in cafes, seeing friends and family and their houses or yours etc - when you can’t do those things it adds even more pressure on the walk to be ‘enjoyable’.

I was a walker before lock down, me and dp used to always be out in the hill or whatever, got all the gear etc

I'm so totally fucking fed up with walking now, same fucking paths, I've done all the local footpath walks i can find on an OS map. Its cold, dreary, wet, boring.
Even dp is struggling and he used to regularly walk 15 miles or so. He can't be arsed either

I can't stand walks, especially round here. Mud everywhere, no paths so you potentially get mown down in the lanes and extreme hills. I have a small treadmill and make myself walk on that for half an hour every day instead, whilst I watch TV. Much better.

I can't be arsed either unless there's somewhere to go, or I'm meeting a friend and there might be the excitement of an illicit sit-down coffee. (I know - I've killed grannies - my bum has been on a bench for 20 minutes and I don't care!)

I've always had dogs so always walked but surely it can't be any more boring than sitting in the house all day long?? Especially with kids. My kids are actually in school at the moment but I don't think they've been going outside much when it's been snowy / icy and I can't get the fuckers to sleep!!

We all need a good dose of fresh air and exercise in our house.

Having said that if you all hate it then why bother?

I absolutely detest going for a walk! It's pointless and boring! The only time i do it is to take the dog for a walk and thats only because i have to!

It certainly isn't pointless - it's really good for you. Also,why on earth would you get a dog if you detest going for walks?

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

Will try this with my 15 year old.

I usually love walking but I am bored to death of the only two available (and lovely) walks near my house. I would love to throw the dogs in the car and drive to the river a couple of miles away for a change, but I’m reluctant lest I get a Covid fine slapped on me and ‘Facebook shamed’ as our local police force have taken to posting exactly how many people they have fined each week and where.

I do force myself to walk or run most days as I have found the fresh air good for my mental health and I do enjoy it, but after nearly a year of the same it’s getting pretty tedious. The kids feel exactly the same and generally refuse to come now, although they will go out on bikes and they have taken to practicing their sports in the garden. We are all desperate for a change of scenery.

I hate it with the cold and miserable weather, but to be honest i'm not looking forward to walks when the weather picks up either because it'll be so busy everywhere.

I'm sick of having to dance around people or cross the road every 20 yards as it is.

I enjoy walking but have pushed to going out later (9 pm) or in not so great weather due to all the couples and groups who can’t seem to detach themselves from each other’s hips, blocking pavements and walkways or dog owners with their dogs off-lead who are weaving all over the paths and I have no idea where owners or dogs are going so have to walk through the mud or into the street.

Funny enough, I see a handful of others doing the same as me with the late evening walks and we just nod at each other as we walk past. Let’s me know I’m not the only one fed up with it all.

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Notanotherhun

I’m with you OP, I HATE walking for no purpose also. Borrrrr-ring! And I love to exercise at the gym, love my road bike, swimming etc. But walking, ugh!

HOWEVER ... I’ve just discovered podcasts and now I love it. I get a decent 1 hour walk and i don’t want to stop when I get back because I’m so engrossed in the story I’m listening to. Currently listening to “I’m not a monster”. Give podcast a try, might do the trick!

I spent last year mostly unable (physically) to walk. Now I can again, I’m like Forrest Gump on his run.

It helps that we live in a beautiful area though.

I used to hate it but I now enjoy it but only because I use it as an opportunity to try new footpaths and visit areas I’ve not been before. Seems to make it much more interesting