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.

You don't sound very nice in your post OP, very condescending but I'll answer.

I find exercise boring - I do it, but yeah, boring and repetitive. I didn't mind it as much when I could play tennis and the gym server a purpose, to warm up or cool down in order to play tennis, but now I can't play it's all a bit boring.

Finding a class I like is also tricky because I fit the gym in around a lot of other stuff, like a lot of families do, so can't always do the same time each week. Not a case of prioritising it and going because it "for me", it's a case of going when I have childcare and I'm not at work myself.

And yeah, sometimes, when I'm knackered after a run of no sleep and I eventually stop at 8.30/9pm, I sit on the sofa and scroll instead of getting out to the gym - and that's ok too.

yeah, sometimes, when I'm knackered after a run of no sleep and I eventually stop at 8.30/9pm, I sit on the sofa and scroll

That makes sense. In that situation you're tired, rather than "I don't want to go exercise because it's too boring."

It's the "too boring" thing that intrigued me.

Did people really mean "too boring"
DS often says "I'm tired" when he actually means "I'm bored."
Maybe most people don't know what are their own feelings, is all I'm figuring out.

If you were someone who in theory wanted more exercise, it might be useful to know whether it was tiredness or boredom that was actually stopping you. They seem like they might have different solutions.

With DS, I just need to distract him so he stops being "too tired"

I like exercise that has a goal. Walking to the shop or walking the kids to school. But I find exercise for the sake of it feels a bit pointless, even though it isn't, due to the health benefits accrued. I do like running though, because you can get the exercise over more quickly than walking😅 I have to listen to an audiobook because, something about the monotony of repetitive movement of walking/running frees up my brain and I find I have a lot of unwelcome intrusive thoughts.

I'm about to head off to the gym. It is bloody boring! I don't do it because I think it's fun but because I want to stay in shape.

I've got things to do in the house I've very nearly made the excuse not to go but forcing myself to do it. I do feel gd after it though well sore but a gd feeling within.

I find a lot of the exercise I do ‘boring’ in that I’d often rather be doing something else, like reading a book or sleeping 😂
However lots of boring things are essential and still have to be done. I want my body to work for me not against me so I continue to do them.

For me, it is so boring. But I do it to keep my weight in check and for the long term benefits so I don't become obese - period. Are you asking me if I would prefer to watch Netflix ? 100% And if I'm tired - I am tired not bored. I know the difference.

@lljkk I find the repetitive nature of the exercise I do boring. It's dull. It's uninteresting.

I prefer to do things that are more interesting and engaging.

Also, I don't think anyone is entitled to knowledge about my private health information if I don't want to give it to them, so sometimes I say it's boring rather than go into a long explanation of how painful it is, how dull, how repetitive and unengaging, how it's something I do because I have to and how upsetting I find it to be only able to do the little I can and not the runs/walks/bike rides/swimming that I used to do. I used to be very fit and active and now I'm not, and that makes me upset and sad.

Why do you think I must be watching tv, scrolling social media or watching paint dry and why is that a bad thing? If I'm having a bad day, I can't get out of bed. Damn right I am going to be titting on mumsnet or watching the tele because that's all I can do - and some days I can't even do that, all I can do is dope myself to the eyeballs and sleep.

It's boring same was as watching paint dry same as me watching netball or going to an opera or ballet or a million other things

Same as things I do would be boring to others, so why does it matter to you?

I find swimming in a pool very very dull. Walking however is good because you can look at the scenery, change routes etc. Maybe we just have more active minds than you OP? Are you used to not thinking about anything? That's what it sounds like.

Nice little Freudian slip with your misuse of the word "prejudice" in your OP.

I think you've got the answer in your own OP.

What are they doing? Things that THEY find interesting, which may well be watching TV or paint dry. Or could be learning a language. Painting. Acting. Reading. Who knows?

It's irrelevant whether YOU find those things interesting or boring. What you're failing to understand is that other people experience different emotions to you. Yes, some people find exercise boring. Yes, you may find the thing they're doing instead boring. Boring is a subjective not objective term.

For me it depends what it is. Running is boring to me, as is swimming. Walking can be boring unless there is some nice scenery.

I love lifting weights and don’t find that boring. Also love yoga- I think that is probably very boring to lots of people but it’s the only way I can get headspace really.

I absolutely hate exercise even though its good for me and it makes me feel better. I'd rather be doing almost anything. I work a really intense job in child protection so I'm chairing meetings all day long and doing reading and prep, so I'm definitely not 'watching paint dry' but when I finish work I'd rather see friends, sort the house out etc. I still go the gym because I have to but its not my idea of fun

I find it 'boring' in that I don't find it mentally stimulating or engaging. It's a chore - I like the washing up analogy! - I know it has to be done so I do it.

I don't think it helps that exercise is often pitched as a leisure activity or a hobby, so it's in competition in our brain - and limited time - with things that we actually do find enjoyable. For some it is fun but, from a health perspective, it's really a bodily 'chore' like brushing your teeth or drinking enough water. I find thinking of it like that actually helps me do it, rather than feeling bad that I don't leap out of bed wanting to go for a run every morning!

Depends what you mean by exercise. I don't run or go to a gym or lift weights because I would find that boring (I've tried!) However I do enjoy a hike in the hills or a walk in the woods. I'm currently spending my weekends doing some heavy duty gardening, having spent the last couple of months decorating my entire house. I have an active job and I don't really watch TV. I get plenty exercise, I just don't actually set out to exercise. Living an active life is key.

why does it matter to you

Actually I'm also intrigued why some people can only go running if they have music or podcasts to listen to. Why is someone like me content enough with my own thoughts and the outside views while running, while others find themselves bored witless without the music in their ears. I wouldn't listen at all if I tried to run with music in my ears.

That said, I have become reliant on listening to music while at work; it makes me more productive. And I don't know why, I used to work in silence perfectly easily. Something about dopamine receptors changed, but only in that context for me.

Swimming lengths can be boring for sure but it doesn't take too long so I can stomach that boredom. And I'm lucky to get a great high after swimming.

I know people who spend huge amounts of time gaming, scrolling or watching TV, these are common pasttimes. Not because of disability or tired out from rest of life, just out of habit. I don't think anyone on MN would say that there exists no one who ever wastes too much time gaming, time they could have spent much more productively in some other way....

(or maybe I'm the only parent of teenagers on MN, possibly)

I do those things you are judging, however, MN is the only social media I have, does that make me morally superior to you in the gym?

I also read, enjoy ballet, opera and theatre.

I study every single day, I read theory, I write on the world's ills.

I guess none of that matters, unless I exhaust myself in the gym every day?

You appear to be a bit low on imagination there OP.

People like different things. To me exercise is like doing the laundry or batch cooking, I don’t loath it, but it’s dull.

I would rather be reading, meeting friends, going to galleries, the theatre the cinema etc. Or working actually, because I have an interesting job, volunteering also. I do quite like walking in interesting places so that’s something.

I think we’re just lesser people than you, with duller brains and less virtuous spirits.

More than a bit goady

I hate exercise, I also hate sport on TV.

You're not superior to me by going to the gym 3 or times a week

Have you tried exercising on crack? Much more fun.

Why is someone like me content enough with my own thoughts and the outside views while running, while others find themselves bored witless without the music in their ears

Because you are a better person than the rest of us. You are more intelligent, more cultured, more grounded, just an all round fantastic being us mere mortals can't comprehend. Is that what you need to hear? Feel better now?

It's boring because I don't enjoy it, it's repetitive. With the time I would be exercising I'm reading, doing chores, being with my kids, shopping, working, yes sometimes social media. I also crochet and design for my side hustles.
You do realise people are interested in different things ? I do exercise most days but do not enjoy it at all. I also cook most days and don't really enjoy that either!

OK and? So?

IMO exercise for the sake of exercise is boring eg going to a gym, swimming backwards and forwards in a pool etc
Exercise like hiking through beautiful countryside, skiing, exercise classes with others, gardening/allotmenting is much better IMO.
Even housework is better than going to a gym because you have the satisfaction of a clean house at the end.
I think for exercise to not be boring it has to have a sense of achievement other than fitness.