People who say that exercise is boring

[lljkk]

People who say that exercise is "too boring": my prejudice is to guess is they spend a lot of time watching tv or scrolling social media or watching paint dry... Things I would find too boring. I'm wrong, right? Tell me about how you find exercise "too boring" and what purposeful or constructive activities you are doing instead with the same time you could have exercised.

Or maybe "too boring" actually means "too tiring and I need brain dead time instead" (xx) which I could completely understand needing. But too tiring is not what some posters say. They specifically say "boring."

(xx) or some other thing that doesn't mean too boring but people choose the wrong words.

[daisym00n]

I exercise 3 times a week and I hate it and find it boring. I have tried loads of different types to see what I like and the upshot is nothing. To me it is on a par with washing up. Boring but needs to be done.

[Raccaccoonie]

It's repetitive and you need to do it often. I enjoy exercise but it's not exactly the must varied activity.

I try not to "guess" what people like doing and then judge them for it based on their use of one word.

[EveryKneeShallBow]

What can I say. It’s boring, repetitive, tedious, dull, does not keep my brain engaged, teaches me nothing. It’s boring. I don’t really watch television, and I don’t have social media. I DO waste ages on Mumsnet. When I’m not exercising i am variously sleeping, cooking, looking after grandchildren, doing hobbies, free online courses, out with friends, gardening, reading, housework, shopping, and other things that I like doing. I’m in my 60s and no longer do things that don’t make me happy.

[ZipZapZoom]

To me it is on a par with washing up. Boring but needs to be done.

This sums it up nicely. It's not exactly the most exciting way to spend your time and it can be very monotonous there's plenty of more enjoyable things most people would prefer to be doing.

[Oganesson118]

This sounds a bit goady OP, like judging people for not liking what you like.

I find some exercise extremely boring. Running bores the life out of me but swimming doesn’t, although in theory it should be the other way around when you consider you see more when running. But something about being in the water is enjoyable for me so I don’t get bored as I am enjoying the sensation and the focus on my breathing.

[Raccaccoonie]

But to answer your question, I would probably do another job that's "boring but needs to be done" in the same time - admin for the charity, kid admin, cleaning.

Preferably I'd be reading, practising my instrument or seeing friends which I rarely have time to do. I've tried going to exercise classes with friends but locally they're at inconvenient times.

Perhaps others would consider those pointless, I don't really care.

[SilverBranchGoldenPears]

I‘m a marathon runner and swimmer and even I know it’s bloody boring most of the time!!!
Whatever goady high horse you are on @lljkk i recommend jumping off.

[FiveShelties]

I swim and wow is that boring. But it is a great exercise and I need to stay relatively fit.

So tell me OP why you find it so interesting. I must add that I have never watched paint dry so perhaps that is why exercise would appear so fascinating to you.

[TheCadoganArms]

I row competitively, I love being on the water and genuinely feel so positive after an outing even if our coach has absolutely beasted us. Can't stand all the erg training that is also required as it is repetitive and boring but I try and motivate myself by thinking of all the up coming races and not letting my crew down.

[shouldhavetakenmorenotice]

Very much find excercise dull. I get my kicks from crafting and I'm yet to find an exercise I can do whilst stitching.

I presume people who get excited from lifting things repetitively several times a week must be creatively quite shallow.

[Comedycook]

Wow, you sound very judgy.

I find exercise boring.

I found exercise boring before the internet was even invented.

As a small child, if you had given me the choice between PE or maths class, I'd have chosen maths every time.

[Pigeonqueen]

Different people enjoy different things… wow.

[CrispsandCheeseSandwich]

Tell me about how you find exercise "too boring" and what purposeful or constructive activities you are doing instead with the same time you could have exercised.

You sound incredibly condescending.

I actually don't find exercise boring (although that's mainly because I listen to podcasts while I do it, I don't find running inherently non-boring), and I do it frequently. But it's not beyond me to think that people might find it boring, and may also be doing something else constructive instead.

Also, not all of everyone's time needs to be spent on constructive things. Posting this thread on MN isn't that purposeful or constructive, and many would find it boring. Why don't you think about what purposeful thing you could have done instead with this time.

[Mapletreelane]

I think it is about finding something that engages you? Maybe they haven't found it? I find running on a treadmill absolutely mind numbingly tedious. I just don't do it. Stick me outside for 5k in wind rain and 3 degrees temperature and I feel exhilerated. Gym classes...hate them. A pilates session online when I can put on meditation music and get in my zone...love it.

Ultimately not my business what others find boring. Really doesn't bother me!

[whosaidtha]

Exercise is boring for me. I make it more enjoyable by listening to podcasts and music. If I had to run with nothing I wouldn't do it.

[Octavia64]

Exercise can be boring.

I used to love doing Martial arts and fencing because it engaged my brain as well.

These days I do a lot of outdoor swimming - because swimming up and down the pool is boring

[Isyesterdaytomorrowtoday]

You do know people are allowed to feel differently about different things don’t you @lljkk? You seem like an absolute joy

[TextureSeeker]

I exercise quite a bit and for the most part I do find it boring. I prefer doing creative things like silversmithing, embroidery, painting etc or in Spring/Summer I spend a lot of time gardening.

[BitterSweetISuppose]

It depends on what excercise your doing surely?

Going on a dog walk - love it but can be boring
Going to dance classes - hated it every single second
Muai thai - loved it
The gym - hated it and boring
Swimming - love it but it is boring


Most exercise is boring and most of it isnt fun

[Porridgeislife]

We all like different things. I’d rather eat Malteasers and watch TV than exercise but I like being fit and sleeping well more so that’s why I lift weights and spin. I never look forward to exercising but I enjoy how I feel afterwards.

Actually liking exercise doesn’t make you morally superior to people who enjoy scrolling social media.

[exerciseshmexercise]

Exercise is boring because all I can do is limited by disabilities. I do put headphones in to try to make it more interesting by listening to a podcast.

I do my PhD research instead.

[Comedycook]

I mean you talk about 'brain dead time' but a lot of people may view exercise as that.

[Yourethebeerthief]

Tell me about how you find exercise "too boring" and what purposeful or constructive activities you are doing instead with the same time you could have exercised.

This is ridiculous. I force myself to exercise because I know it's good for me, but I still find it boring. I also keep my home clean and tidy because it's good for me. It's equally boring.

When not exercising I'm doing a million more entertaining things with my time: working (which I love), reading, seeing friends, spending time with my son, playing board games, going to movies, playing video games, doing crosswords, going to the spa for a massage.

[exerciseshmexercise]

Also sometimes I say exercise is boring because I don't want to have to start explaining my disabilities to people because it's none of their business so I say it's boring and I don't enjoy it rather than disclose private medical information.

[Gwenhwyfar]

@daisym00n

I exercise 3 times a week and I hate it and find it boring. I have tried loads of different types to see what I like and the upshot is nothing. To me it is on a par with washing up. Boring but needs to be done.

Get a dishwasher.

As for exercise, do those toning machines do anything?