I don’t like going for walks or to the park, I want to look around shops

[tohaverealisediam]

on Sunday I was feeling like the walls were falling in on me and just needed to get out. This is where my husband usually suggests a walk or taking the kids to the park- I find this so boring.

I realised that what I want to do, most it the time when I’m feeling like this- is just go and mooch around a couple of shops, get a coffee or lunch, maybe buy something new- nothing big necessarily, but maybe a little lamp or a new candle or something. This makes me happy. Going to the park, really doesn’t make me happy at all. It just doesn’t stimulate me whatsoever.

I am happy to take the kids to the playground of course, but parks or walks just bore me so much. My husband much prefers going for a walk. I don’t mind a walk so much if it’s in an amazing scenic location, in fact I do enjoy it. But I just don’t enjoy it when there’s not much to see.

I know that most mumsnetters love a walk etc and that’s great, but does it not just under stimulate you ?

it’s a bit of a struggle as obviously my husband and I have different preferences.

we ended up going out for a bit, going to a couple of shops, getting dinner out so I didn’t need to cook and clean up.

I am just so bored of staying in all weekend with two young kids and the only thing we do is maybe go for a walk, that’s all my husband wants to do as he finds going out stressful.

I cannot bear shopping and pottering around the shops. I can't imagine that I'll ever do it again in this lifetime. It's unutterably mind numbing. You get to a point where you've got enough shit and don't need any more. Mindless consumerism. Shuffling around with other zombies. Get out in to the fresh air. Go see nature in all it's glory. Go on a walk up to the top of a hill in the Lake District or Peak District or Wales or Glencoe and soak in the wonder of the great outdoors. See the splendour of the natural world, not the inside of some overly-lit shop playing musak. There's truly no happiness or fulfilment on the inside of a shop.

I loathe shopping. I’d rather do almost anything. I cannot understand how people see it as a leisure activity. I love the outdoors, love going for a walk anywhere.

I don’t really understand the under stimulating comment. I don’t think walks are supposed to be entertaining as such?

I love looking at scenery, feeling the air, birds etc. if I’m alone I listen to a podcast or audiobook while I walk.

I live near proper countryside though and not just a green square park that often gets crowded at weekends.

Does it depend where you live? I’m rural, so a change for me is a walk around the shop / town centre. Every day is a quiet rural walk with birds, nature, trees and fields.

I’m energised by the people, vibrancy, noise, choice that comes from a city trip. And then I come home and enjoy the beautiful quiet of where I live.

If I lived in a town or city I can imagine that I’d want the reverse and would want a rural
walk.

It does not under stimulate me but it sounds like you get a hit out of spending money ?

stimukation could come from choosing a route that is challenging - perhaps navigation or fitness, or from spotting and watching nature -I adore watching the changing of the seasons through our local woods- or from the conversation that I might be having - other people can be so interesting

but also I actually like walking because it calms me down- life is stimulating enough / I need the peace that I get from walking

everyone is different but needing to go to the shops and buy things to feel stimulated is worrying

I’m the complete opposite and can’t relate at all. Shopping is monotonous, boring, pointless. Waste of time and end up wasting money. Doesn’t stimulate me at all.
Love nothing more than being among nature-surrounded by green, looking at plants, fresh air. Good for the body and soul 🪴

I’m the complete opposite and can’t relate at all. Shopping is monotonous, boring, pointless. Waste of time and end up wasting money. Doesn’t stimulate me at all.
Love nothing more than being among nature-surrounded by green, looking at plants, fresh air. Good for the body and soul 🪴

I'd much rather go for a mooch around a few charity shops than go to the park or on a country walk.

I like walking to places, not just ambling along on a 'walk'

I'm another who mostly hates shopping - when it's chore shopping - ie food, household essentials and even clothes.
But to me "mooching" means only going to the shops you like so I like that.

I like nothing more than mooching around charity shops. I have to be alone though, can’t bear DH being there, huffing and looking at his watch and complaining about me buying more clothes that won’t fit in my wardrobe. He’s not wrong to be fair but that’s not the point.

I tell him he’s lucky. I could be into high end bags or designer clothes instead of charity shop bargains.

Me too! Love walking, always have, even when I was a kid. I find early morning walks in parks and greenery very restful and relaxing. Love walking with the dog too. Hate the shops with a passion! Lol

Sounds like you need to go to markets or car boots or antique fairs. Me and my husband do this as I like walking in the fresh air and he likes buying tat.

Me too!! Hate going for walks but happy to shop.

I have an elderly rescue dog who is happy for a stroll around the block (if it's not hot/raining/windy/dark!). I actually said to her at the weekend that I really needed to buy something. Ended up buying 14 things on Vinted and I'm loving all the parcels turning up!

I only have the dog to talk to as it's just me and her. She doesn't criticise and is happy to dive nose first in the parcels too!

Fine if you like shopping to browse clothes or accessories etc because you are interested in fashion, but don't need to buy lots of stuff...

But it sounds more like what you like is "buying stuff", spending money. Treating yourself, getting coffee out and lunch, impulse buying things you do not need

My idea of hell but each to their own.

I hate shopping as well. Its a chore!

I enjoy both. I like getting the train into town and going by myself in the morning when the kids are at school. But I do get something different that's also enjoyable from being in nature. So I like a balance. And it's good to mix things up and explore different parks. Going to the same swing park all the time and watching the kids on the swings is really boring.

So leave him at home to do what he wants with the kids and you got to the shops, that’s what I do.

I dislike just walking. If we are walking somewhere or with a purpose, fine but a walk for a walks sake? So boring.

I am aware that I am getting quite lazy though.

I love looking around good shops, going for a coffee, maybe lunch etc.
I’m not sure most children would enjoy it though.
I enjoy walking but only to get somewhere or walking where it’s scenic. I used to live near a wood and that was great, so many different walks to do.

I also dislike going for a walk with no purpose or destination UNLESS it's a proper day-long hike through gorgeous scenery or over rough or mountainous terrain when I'm on holiday, then it's exciting.

I absolutely despise shopping, find it stressful and hate spending money for the sake of it.

Going to art galleries and museums is probably my ideal relaxing day out.

@tohaverealisediam

I know that most mumsnetters love a walk etc and that’s great, but does it not just under stimulate you?

Nope, I love going for walks, especially where I can walk for miles, looking at interesting things like nature, animals, plants/flowers, rivers/streams, etc. Walking through a wood, or a canal footpath, or a seaside pathway or public footpath through a national park or nature reserve is my idea of heaven. Walking on pavements through a housing estate not quite so much fun! I also like outdoor museums such as Beamish or that at Ironbridge or castles in Northumberland, especially Lindisfarne - can walk around those for hours, or also RHS gardens etc.

I absolutely hate shopping and avoid it as much as possible. I do most of my shopping online these days as it's easier to compare, keep control of spending, get the best discounts/deals, look at online reviews etc. all from the comfort of my home rather than trailing around miserably shopping streets/shopping centres surrounded by lots of miserable looking people, being served by miserable looking staff, etc.

@Foolsgold74 is there any need to start slating people who do enjoy it, calling them zombies? You sound like one of those COVID conspiracy theory people, calling everyone sheep. You can say you would rather be out hill walking without making out like people who would rather not be are shit.

Weirdly, I used to really like walking and now I find it really boring and prefer swimming/running 😂