I noticed this with almost every outdoor activity I do.
While I love diving and snorkeling, but after the first dive/ snorkel back to boat I can’t wait to get back in but I don’t want to get wet, put on masks, fins etc.
We were canoeing and while I could go 15-20 miles in a single session I hate getting out of the canoe and getting it out of the water, getting dry, eating and then just the though of getting back into a canoe is exhausting.
I noticed this with climbing as well. Thats why I just prefer to boulder if i ever go climb.
If I had two scuba dives in a row without having to go back to boat I’d enjoy it way more. But these breaks in the middle of the day are so exhausting for me.
Is this normal? Everytime I go on trips nobody has this problem.
But once I am set up and back in I’m fine. It’s just this phase during breaks where I think I am actually fine and could go home now. One reason why I just prefer to power through 6-8 hours and then eat a huge dinner.
The human brain doesn’t like change. That is true regarding the big things, but also the small things. Changing anything requires effort, and this effort can feel very different depending on you mindset that day, that moment. I find myself quite often wanting to do “thing”, but not wanting to do all the stuff I have to do before. I want to be under the shower, but I don’t want to take off my clothes, get wet, etc. Kind of like the dog in this little comic, who wants you to throw the ball, but not take it away from him. 😄
I can only get myself through this with (loving) self-discipline - telling myself, come on, you know it’s going to be good once you’re at it. I also try to make the hurdles I have to jump over as small as possible. Maybe that’s an option for you as well? Maybe you don’t have to take off all your gear or get completely out of the water, canoe etc.