People who are too busy to do exercise

[Hollyandivygoout]

I run about 4 miles, 4 times a week. I’m in a routine and force myself to do it even when I can’t be arsed. It takes me about 30-40 minutes each time I go for a run and I squeeze it in early morning, before dinner, just whenever I can really. I work full time and have 2DC who are admittedly at secondary school now, but this is something I’ve always done.
My AIBU is finding it annoying when people tell me they don’t have time to do any exercise. It’s like they’re so busy and important and I’ve got all the time in the world. I honestly don’t believe that the vast majority of people can’t squeeze in half an hour a few times a week.

Why do you care so much? Ignore them and keep doing you. Sounds like you're very dedicated, good going.

Yet they have time so slob on the sofa and scroll on their phones.
Fully agree with you OP

Well I absolutely cant go for a 40 minute run 4 times a week because I have young kids and can't just leave them on their own! I do have a Les Mills on demand subscription though so I do classes in my lounge

I don't think it's because they literally don't have any time free at all...I think it is because they are too exhausted to use that time

Give people a break OP. I run three times a week and find your post mean-spirited and a little smug.

Well done 👏

Great, well done. Have a gold star 🙄

Because other people have different lives to you? It’s not that hard to understand.

i have 2 children, one who is disabled and needs me constantly, I work full time and also care for a disabled parent.

I AM too busy to exercise. Not that I should have to explain myself to ignorant folk.

Yeah come on...it's great that you have a regular routine but not everyone has that self discipline or motivation. There are many reasons why people might struggle to do it and that doesn't make them lazy, self important or less valid in any way.

Simple - some people really don't like physical activity and exercise and see it as a chore and therefore de-prioritise it - they prioritise things like housework, relaxing etc over exercise.

Those of us who actually enjoy physical activity prioritise it much higher, above boring stuff like housework and shopping and watching netflix.

That's a really weird take on it - that their saying they don't have time is like some sort of attack on you.

I exercise a lot and have never felt victimised by people saying that. I generally agree that I'm lucky I have time to fit it in. I consider being able to exercise a privilege - it means I'm in good physical and mental health and have some kind of leisure time available to me. It is by no means guaranteed that everyone has this.

To be fair everyone has the same amount of time but different things to fill it with, I really want to up my exercise but currently I get up at 4:30am to work and often finish at 9pm. I am really struggling to fit it in, and my career, children, and our business are prioritised over myself and my own health. I would have to re-jig other important things to be able to exercise, do less work for example. It's balance and priorities. Also a single parent can't easily go for a run.
I get that it's important but you could say it about anything - why don't people read more, broaden their horizons, invest more in their relationships and sex life etc. Different things are important to different people.

you sound very sheltered/ignorant ... not comprehending how others in different situations might not be able to do the same thing as you ...
So, my sisters' day - single parent. Up at 5am with small child, drops at childminders at 7:30 - goes to work 9-5 collects child at 6:30pm. - does dinner, bath bed and is downstairs around 8pm. Can't leave house. She does park run at weekend with child, so hardly able to run at speed - and they swim every weekend, but gain, not exactly lane swimming. She occasionally is childfree for an hour or so, maybe once a month.

When is she supposed to fit in the 4 runs every week?

Not everyone has childcare to leave the house. Exercise in the lounge is not always appealing and hard to motivate yourself for.

You sound like someone I know who retrained as a PE teacher. She was always commenting on other people's life choices with zero empathy. It's great that you've got a hobby but not everyone has to follow it too. You're still a valid human being and no one is saying there's anything wrong with the way you live your life.

I don't exercise because I hate it

I also find myself wondering who is starting the conversation about you running - if you are sensitive about people's comments about exercise perhaps avoid the subject?

As much as I enjoy running it's a fucking boring subject to talk about anyway.

YABU because you sound smug.

I used to run about 25-30 km a week, I don’t now because DD isn’t well and it’s draining the life out of me. One day I’ll go back to it but if anyone was to judge me for my lack of exercise I would tell them to fuck off, quite frankly.

Some people don’t like exercise and others genuinely don’t have time because they have other things going on.

Honestly what do you want? A medal? A parade? Stop being judgey.

I do make time to exercise but I can't manage 4 x a week.

I work full time, I have 2 children primary age so I can't leave them alone to exercise, I also have volunteering commitments.

I can fit in exercise on my WFH days usually - but sometimes it gets very busy and I can't - and once at the weekend. Which usually means 2-3 times a week.

I don't have loads of time watching telly or whatever the stereotype is - I probably watch TV for maybe an hour a week? I guess I could drop that for more exercise but I do want a bit of time to relax...

Of course people have time to do some exercise in their week but many people experience too many barriers to actually doing it. There are a lot of barriers to running. Having the kit, having enough of it washed and ready to wear, knowing where to run, timing your run for the correct weather, time of day, busy-ness, eating at the right time to optimise the run, pacing the run. You are in the habit of running so all these steps will be simpler for you to deal with than someone who has not run before. It would take many people more than 30 minutes out of their day to actually start.

I get what you're saying, you aren't any less busy than other people, but many people do see time as a barrier to exercise because they might have other priorities they'd rather use that time for.

I exercise more than you and I have the luxury of that time primarily because my kids are grown up and I work from home so have no commute.

I consider myself extremely fortunate and can totally see why people who have small kids and a 2 hour round trip to the office cannot find the time.

Sorry but you sound very judgemental.

I wish that I was as awesome as you 🙌

They mean they would need to not do something else in order to fit it in. And it's one thing if the something else is optional like an extra half hour in bed, or missing out on a sit down before dinner, quite another if the something else is essential like getting small children ready for the day, hearing them read before dinner, checking in on elderly parents etc.

As someone who runs 3-4 times a week, does weight training + pilates plus having a FT job and 2 kids under 7 AND 2 hours commuting 3x a week. You are being a judgy nob. Different people have different priorities. Some people don't like exercise some do. Its really not that hard to figure out.

As somone who has older kids at secondary OP I'm sure you're more than able to squeeze in a few extra sessions. Personally I think you're being lazy. (not very nice when someone is judgy is it?)