AIBU to think I’ve forgotten how to socialise?!

[Bellasblankexpression]

Is it just me?

I’m away for the weekend visiting my best friend who I haven’t seen for nearly 18 month due to Covid and various lockdowns etc.
I speak to him most days on WhatsApp so it’s not like we don’t talk, and we FaceTime regularly so we have conversations kind of face to face too.

But it feels weird and exhausting to spend this much time socialising now. Don’t get me wrong I love him dearly and it’s not unenjoyable as such, it just feels like there’s a slightly weird awkward vibe and I feel like I don’t have much to say because I’ve literally just been at home or the park or the supermarket.

I’ve posted about him before as we have very different lifestyles, which I was struggling a bit with anyway before the visit so could be that, or the fact I had a baby not long before first lockdown so my life is very different now…

But I’ve noticed it with other friends too? Like if I meet someone for a coffee that feels like a full day’s socialisation and I’m shattered and almost need to recover from it!

What’s wrong with me?! Is it just me?! AIBU to think I’ve actually forgotten how to socialise like I used to?

I think we're just so used to 'chatting' on WhatsApp and Messenger where you can dip in and out of conversations (without uncomfortable pauses) it feels strange to sit with someone and give them your undivided attention. Also, if you're chatting regularly, all topics are covered so what do you discuss when you meet up in person?

It's a nightmare

That’s very true @purrswhileheeats we mainly talk nonsense on WhatsApp but yes there must be an element of that
I’m having a nice time but I’m bloody shattered! Luckily he’s very low key so quite happy to watch a film and get pizza tonight when I announced that I was done with socialising for the evening 😂

I've always found it exhausting. 😂

Oh, I'm the same. Or worse. I've been living in my own little world and keep drifting off into daydreams. I mean, here feels more real to me than real life at the moment and I'm more engaged and focused than I am with actual people.

Have to practice more and get out of it, terrible rut to be in.

@PleasantBirthday exactly this.
It all just feels like effort, even to be with the people I love and look forward to spending time with, and it’s all I’ve wanted to be able to do for the best part of a year and now I’m like maybe I’ll just stay home and mumsnet while watching Netflix…

It was lovely to be able to give him a hug though.

I was thinking about how weekends pre Covid would be jam packed and now it seems impossible that we would do so much stuff and not need a week to recover!