Is it normal to hate going out

Explore different types of exercise to find one that you like. Or perhaps boxing or martial arts is more your style. Try different types of classes to see what you like and meet new people.

Take a walk and take different turns than you usually do. Go into shops you have never been to. Make it a mission to know your living environment well so that you could give perfect directions if someone asks you. Your disinterest in going out may be due to low energy and exhaustion. Eating a healthier diet and taking supplements can help you increase your energy. You could also consult your doctor and take a blood test to see if you are deficient in any vitamins or minerals.

Getting enough sleep can do wonders for your energy levels and emotional health. Improve your sleep quality by avoiding screens for an hour before bedtime and adopting bedtime routines like drinking tea, stretching, journaling, and reading a book.

If you used to like going out but doing anymore, this might be a sign of depression or social anxiety. A common symptom of depression is anhedonia —the inability to feel pleasure or enjoy things. Your dislike of going out can be isolated, and you may enjoy other things. A therapist can help you understand why you dislike going out and how to handle the problem. You can find an online therapist through BetterHelp. You may not feel like going out if you feel burnt out, anxious, depressed, or exhausted.

You can spend time getting to know yourself and your friends on a deeper level. It seems pretty tempting to step out, even with the added effort of remembering to put on a mask and carry a sanitiser. If you asked my friends, they would tell you that I hate staying home—that I just need an excuse to go out. They wouldn't even be wrong about it, since that was practically 70 percent of my pre-pandemic personality.

But now, I don't even know anymore. Most days, this is how my routine goes: wake up, eat, work, read, eat, sleep. I am also privileged enough to get groceries delivered to my door. So maybe it is the monotony, but now the pandemic has made me pretty fatigued and numb. But I do know for a fact that this isn't just me. Thankfully, a quick Google search confirms this fatigue in quarantine is a real thing.

So, on some days, I watch sad movies or anime just to make myself feel something. Life has derailed, and we hardly have any control over our actions. Secretly anxious, grumpy people-pleasers have it bad. We have to keep the conversation going. We have to ask questions and listen and make sure everyone is having fun.

Stating your preferences clearly, without apology, is good for you! Make peace with who you are. When you feel guilty and ashamed of what you want, all you do is fuck shit up. You bail at the last minute; you hide your true desires; you treat friends badly. Expressing yourself clearly, without guilt, and telling people what you want directly goes a long way. I know that sounds absurd, but pay attention. People like that are alllllll over the place, actually.

You also have to remember that being single and watching all of your friends couple up can feel like being abandoned. Make it clear to your single friends that you want to spend time with them, just not at 1 a. Make plans with them to do the kinds of things that you like to do.

Supporting single people no matter what, embracing and including people without kids when you have kids — this is just part of being a solid friend. And not to sound harsh, but none of us know when we could end up single again. Shit happens. Defying the stupid-ass ways our culture sorts us into categories is important.

The more you break those boundaries and shake things up, the better your social life will be. Even so, try to be realistic. Some friends want to do, do, do things all the time.

Other friends just want to talk more than anything else in the world. Staying at home and spending time with people in low-key ways is not a moral failure, as long as you recognize who your true friends are and you express your gratitude and commitment to those friends along the way. When you keep friendships alive that mean nothing to you, you erode your ability to be a good friend to the people who really do matter. When you go from doing whatever comes up and hating it to being a visionary socializer who makes inspired, exciting plans with people who are deeply craving new, more meaningful ways of interacting, your life changes.

You are being the kind of friend you want to have yourself. You are making the world a better, more inspired place for the people you love the most. But most of all? You may grow to love the things you currently loathe. People who accept themselves as they evolve are the happiest people around. It takes work, sure. But honor your deepest feelings. Honor your principles. Honor who you are. Stop following around friends that make no sense to you, and find some new friends who inspire and excite you.

This life is your creation. You can make it whatever you want.