Lots of good suggestions here, but yours dovetails nicely with mine: if your situation supports it, get a dog. Walk the dog. Play with the dog. Take the dog to the park.
I tend to hate physical activity for its own sake. I’ve been known to say I’ve never run in my life unless I was being chased. But, having a dog opened up a world of activity with a purpose. I now get outside and walk for a minimum of about 40 minutes a day, and most days much longer. It’s done wonders for both my physical and mental health.
But that actually points to an underlying principle: if you hate the gym because it’s boring or seems pointless, find an otherwise enjoyable activity that also incorporates an element of physicality.
I tend to hate physical activity for its own sake. I’ve been known to say I’ve never run in my life unless I was being chased. But, having a dog opened up a world of activity with a purpose. I now get outside and walk for a minimum of about 40 minutes a day, and most days much longer. It’s done wonders for both my physical and mental health.
But that actually points to an underlying principle: if you hate the gym because it’s boring or seems pointless, find an otherwise enjoyable activity that also incorporates an element of physicality.