Since Corona has ruled our everyday lives, many have been "obliged" to stay at home. I (female, 40) have long been a couch potato and now that I can "work" from home, I love being alone even more. I have a couple of good friends that I like to spend time with every now and then, but 1 or 2 hours is enough and afterwards I prefer to be alone again. They also seek contact with me rather than I with them.
I admit, without Netflix, PlayStation and Co, I don't know if I would still be a staunch couch potato. I don't enjoy doing things outside. I've never had the urge to go out just because the weather is nice. I also don't like to go on vacation.
I already enjoyed my party times very much and I don't want to miss it, as well as a few vacation experiences. But when I was on vacation, it was always the case that I was looking forward to home from day 2 at the latest. No matter whether on the Thai sandy beach or on Hollywood Boulevard.
Since I've been allowed to be at home more, I've also noticed how I'm generally better. I suffer from a generalized anxiety disorder - this should definitely be mentioned but it should also be mentioned in the same sentence that I have always liked to be a couch potato. Even as a child.
I have absolutely no desire for a partnership and I do not lack sex. I was never really the cuddle type (unless you're freshly in love, but the phase passes quickly). So I don't feel lonely either.
Since the couch potato per se has a rather negative affliction in our society, I wanted to know: can a couch potato actually and honestly be happy or do I run away from something? I'm a person in need of harmony and like to avoid conflicts, which could be a reason for my love for being alone.
I get along well with friends and I'm also quite popular. So I can also be very social and have fun. Still, as I said, I'd rather be alone.
Before I write more here, I'm interested in your opinions! Is that normal"? Are there any more of us out there?
Well, there are other "couch potatoes" in this world, so you are not alone at the end of the day. Everyone is individual and if you feel comfortable on your own, everything is fine, I think. So you have to know yourself whether you are happy, but for me you sound satisfied with your life.
So I think that's all normal😅
'' can you really and honestly be happy as a couch potato? ''
This works out. I like to be at home myself (uh, not just natural). Your arguments for this sound conclusive and plausible. I could tell you if you would run away from something if I knew them. This is the only way to make an assessment.
I'm also a couch potato, but I'm not really happy with it.
If you've had a "party time" and are popular with friends, well, then you're not that extreme a couch potato.
Oh yes, more than satisfied.
I'm a girl and 14 years old. I've always loved to be alone and hate to be the center of attention and I don't think it will change. I have two best friends with whom I only had contact at school and now rarely make phone calls. I'm alright. And I'm happy about the time I have gained that I can now spend more indoors. My mother doesn't understand me, but she won't be able to change it either. I'm not particularly loud or talkative either. In public, I always try to be friendly and prudent, which works. I don't talk about my problems and think of everything instead of saying it. So as you can see you are not alone and although I'm still so young, we're similar.
Dear cucumber (I like the name.). If you really want to know more about me, let me know. Then I text you even more in a PM.
Thank you for your answer! When I was your age (that sounds like grandma-like) my mother naturally wanted me to go out more. In the meantime she has accepted that. I can also talk to her about my problems, which I do less with my friends, like you. The funny thing is that, especially when it comes to holidays, my mother thinks exactly the same way, and neither does she when we talked about the topic of couch potatoes is so different from me.
Exciting. A friend of mine also has generalized anxiety disorder and she says Corona time is her great luck, just like yours. Home office, no need to do things because it is always exhausting, no one asks what you did on the weekend or cook at home and watching a movie is all the rage, nobody expects anything from you etc.
I don't know whether this is due to the anxiety disorder. She also says that long before the diagnosis, she does not want to go on vacation, big activities, parties, etc. Or that it was always very stressful and she prefers to be at home.
Is that just a certain type of person who then gets psychological problems because of the external demands because he has to live differently than he wants? No idea.
In any case, no one who is not you can give you this answer. You have to find out for yourself whether you are really and honestly happy or what you need for it. Nothing is the ultimate truth except the one you experience yourself. Everyone is happy differently. So you should learn to trust your own feelings more, I guess.
Yes I'm aware that there's an even more extreme category of couch potatoes. So you're not happy about it. What is stopping you from going out? Do you have a circle of friends?
I don't think it sounds like grandma. We're not the same age and that is quite normal. I hope that one day my mother will accept it and I also hope that you can be happy as a couch potato, because otherwise I would have a little problem
I don't want to do that publicly here… Sorry:-)
Ok that's actually interesting, the one with your girlfriend. I actually feel the same way. The only thing I really liked was the parties and festivals. I now hate both. And on your last sentence: that's exactly what I'm doing right now. Since my last breakup (which was a few months ago) I have vowed to finally listen to my gut feeling. What would I have saved myself from doing so… I've always taken it upon myself, but I got it through. Meanwhile already and everything is going great! I still can't do it 100%, but let's say 85% I can do it. So I do as you say, trust my feeling, and remain passionate couch potatoes.
Of course you are very right. It has nothing to do with age! Your mother will have to accept it and I think if she sees that you are happy she will too. And I can tell you from my own 40 years of experience that, as you can see with me, you can very well be happy as a couch potato. I think I'm looking for more (self) confirmation than actual help in this forum. Fortunately, I get the confirmation and therefore do not need to worry about me.
I have often asked myself whether I can really be or be that happy.
No problem! I understand that too well! I also don't want to "get on my nerves" with my problems and hold myself back. That's why I'm writing anonymously in a forum. Nobody is forced to listen to or answer your worries / thoughts / whatever. Nobody tells me what I want to hear here, but honest opinions. And that's exactly what I want.
I assume that the dissatisfied people do not report here.
The basic tenor of the answers is "Yeah, I'm also a couch potato and everything is wonderful"
Are you happy with it right now?
These are the answers I was hoping for. Nevertheless, I'm also interested in the other opinions. I think you can often choose to be a couch potato. Those who do not choose can be helped. If you suffer from a kind of social phobia, there's help.
If you're happy everything is ok:-)
Yes, I think so
