Joy Wasted with KB Dickey

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Let me say this out loud because I know I’m not the only one:

Since COVID, I really don’t like going outside.

And before you clutch your pearls—no, it’s not fear.
I’m not scared of people.
I’m not hiding.
I’m not “struggling.”

I just genuinely enjoy being in my house… minding my business… in my comfy clothes… with no shoes on.

Home is peaceful. Predictable. Already paid for.
Outside? Outside is loud, expensive, and requires a bra.

Somewhere during COVID, my definition of “normal” shifted—and I didn’t even realize it until everything reopened and I was supposed to be excited again.

I wasn’t.

Let’s Normalize This Real Quick

Here’s the part nobody says out loud:

COVID rewired our comfort systems.

We learned how to:

• Work from home
• Rest without guilt
• Control our environment
• Conserve our energy
• Enjoy silence and slow mornings

So now when someone says, “Let’s go out!” my brain goes,
“…for what though?”

This isn’t anxiety.
This isn’t antisocial behavior.
This is comfort recalibration.

I still leave the house. I go into the office three days a week. I function. I interact. I handle business.

But anything extra—gym, community events, social stuff—suddenly feels like a lot.

Not hard.
Just… heavy.

The Real Issue: Transitions Are Exhausting

Here’s what “going out” actually requires now:

• Changing clothes
• Doing your hair/make-up
• Finding something acceptable to wear in public
• Getting in the car
• Dealing with traffic
• Navigating people
• Sensory overload
• Time pressure
• And then the whole process of coming back home and re‑settling

When you’ve gotten used to low‑friction living, all those steps feel like a production.

So no—I don’t hate the gym.
I hate the process of getting to the gym. Once I’m there, yes, I am glad I came.

And let’s talk about the other thing nobody wants to admit…

Outside Is Expensive Now

Why does stepping outside feel like a financial decision?

Because it is.

Gas.
Parking.
Gym memberships.
Random snacks.
“Since I’m already out…” purchases.

Somehow a quick errand turns into $47 and a headache.

So my brain is doing math like: “Why would I leave my peaceful, already‑paid‑for house… to go spend money and energy?”

That’s not being antisocial.
That’s being economically responsible.

Home doesn’t upsell me.
Home doesn’t ask me to “make it worth it.”
Home lets me exist without a receipt.

So How Do You Get Used to Going Out Again?

Not by forcing yourself.
Not by shaming yourself.
Not by pretending it’s 2019.

You don’t need a personality overhaul.
You need a new relationship with outside.

1. Stop Treating “Going Out” Like an Event

Everything doesn’t need to be a whole thing.

You can:

• Go to the gym just to stretch
• Walk on the treadmill for 5–10 minutes and leave
• Run into a store for one item and bounce

No pressure. No performance. No “since I’m here…”

Your brain needs proof that leaving the house doesn’t drain your entire soul.

2. Take Your Comfort With You

If home equals comfort, export that feeling.

• Wear the same cozy hoodie you wear at home
• Play your favorite podcast or playlist only when you’re out
• Promise yourself a reward when you return (hot shower, candles, tea, silence)

You’re teaching your nervous system: “Outside ends in comfort.”

That matters more than motivation.

3. Shrink the Gym Rules

The gym feels daunting because we’ve turned it into a full production.

Change the rules:

• 10 minutes counts
• Stretching counts
• Walking counts
• Sauna counts

Consistency beats intensity every time.

Once you’re there, you might do more—but that can’t be the requirement.

4. Stack Outings on Days You’re Already Out

You already leave the house for work. Don’t add extra transitions.

• Gym on the way home from the office
• Errand right after work
• Quick stop before you go back into home mode

Once you’re home, the couch wins every time. So don’t fight it—work around it.

5. Decide Later, Not Before

This one is big.

Instead of deciding how long you’ll stay or what you’ll do, tell yourself: “I’ll decide once I get there.”

That removes half the mental pressure. Commitment is exhausting. Options are lighter.

Let’s Reframe This Entirely

This isn’t about laziness.
This isn’t about fear.
This isn’t about being antisocial.

This is about a nervous system that learned peace—and doesn’t want chaos disguised as “normal life.”

And honestly? That’s wisdom.

The goal isn’t to go back to who you were before COVID.
The goal is to build a version of “outside” that respects your energy, money, and peace.

One small, intentional, low‑cost outing at a time.

No pressure.
No shame.
No spending spiral.

You’re not broken.
You’re just done paying—emotionally and financially—for things that don’t give enough back.

And that?
That’s growth.

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Joy Junkie!

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