Dunno how else to call it. Got me a job. It’s not a bad job. I like the work I do, I tolerate the people there, the hours are not long, it’s unionised so they can’t harrass me when I’m off the clock, it pays the bills I got.
… But god damn. Once I’m home I lack the drive to do literally anything.
I’ve stopped going to gym, I often eat junk cuz I just don’t wanna cook, even my hobbies are being left to gather dust. After working my 9-to-5 I just wanna lie down and rot until it’s work time again.
So the question is, how do the better-adjusted adults handle this?
The reason you hate it is because you expect to hate it, because you are “forced” to do it. Self-fulfilling prophesy. Sure, endorphins are good - but because you are priming yourself to hate exercise, even if you generate them your brain will avoid interpreting their existance as a “good” feeling.
It is possible to learn to love exercising. It’s easy, actually, since exercise is fundamental to human health, so the body is primed to reward you for doing it. But you will probably find it difficult, since not only do you hate exercise, but you like hating exercise. I don’t wanna psychoanalyze you too much - but based on this comment, it is pretty clear that hating exercise is something of an identity for you. I have all sorts of tips and tricks for learning to enjoy exercise (which really boil down to “make it easy, fun, and social”) - but they all fall flat if you are simply determined to hate it because that is what makes your ego feel safe.
Golly gee, you’re telling me that the reason I dislike the shitty activity that sucks and make me feel terrible is only because I’m forced to do the shitty activity that sucks and makes me feel terrible? You’re saying that if I trick my brain into thinking that the shitty activity that sucks and makes me feel terrible somehow isn’t shitty, doesn’t suck, and doesn’t make me feel terrible; I’ll somehow believe it? Sorry, my brain doesn’t work like that. It tends to reject blatant fucking lies, especially when they come from myself.
I’m sure there are people who practice self-flangellation that have convinced themselves that they like it. Doesn’t make it any less of a stupid activity that anyone with sense would recognize is fucking awful.
Yes
It does work like that.
Then tell it the truth you want to believe.
Truth is, you need to exercise to not die. You can choose to see this as a terrible burden you are forced to endure. Or you can see it as a stroke of luck, pushing you out of your comfort zone to do something that will be beneficial to your overall health, in addition to being something that will bring you joy for the rest of your life. Either way of looking at it is completely valid - it’s just your choice if you see it as a good thing or a bad thing. But if you see it as a good thing… you’ll probably be happier.
Here’s a little thought experiment: If someone offered you a magical pill that could keep you healthy and fit and you never had to work out again, would you take it?
If the answer is yes, then it’s because while you may like the results of working out; deep down you know the actual act of working out fucking sucks. If such a pill existed, you wouldn’t keep lifting weights or running on a treadmill just for the hell of it.
It’s fine to like the results of working out. Hell, I like the results. I like being healthy. I like not having heart problems. But I’m not going to fucking delude myself like a gullible idiot and say that what it takes to achieve those things is somehow enjoyable. Because it’s not. Working out is fucking awful. Just because it’s the only option doesn’t mean I have to pretend to like it.