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Announcements Mar 30, 2026 at 5:55 AM

My coworkers think I hate badminton, but I just really like going straight home after work

Posted by ahmetzulkiflihasan

My coworkers have this after work badminton routine that they take every Monday. Once the workday is over, someone from my team starts asking who's coming, bringing an extra racket, running late, wants doubles, etc. It's more than just exercise for them. It's half hobby and half a team bonding ritual. And every time they ask me, I say no. The truth is, it's not really about badminton. I'm just very attached to my after work freedom. Once I'm done for the day, I want to go home, switch gears, and get on with the rest of my evening. I'm not really in the mood to keep being socially available after I already spent the whole day being working mode of myself. But instead of being honest with that, I once made the mistake by saying, "I don't really like badminton. It's a lame sport." Now people say things like "Don't ask him, he's the number one badminton hater in the building," or "Badminton is a boring sport." It's all joking, not mean, but I somehow ended up with this fake office reputation for being passionately anti-badminton. **For your note: badminton is a very popular sport in my country.** Meanwhile the reality is, I don't hate badminton. I just love leaving. And the awkward part is that I know the whole thing is meant to be good for morale. It probly does help them connect outside of meetings and deadlines. So sometimes I wonder if I'm being too rigid about protecting my own time and energy. But at the same time, I also think many people secretly feel pressured to join after work activities even when they’d rather just go home. So, I'm curious if you enjoy after work social activities with coworkers, or are you more like me?
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16 Comments

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JesusAndPalsX Mar 30, 2026 +40
At least now you're bonding with them bc they're including you in their workplace badminton banter and you still don't have to play :)
40
ahmetzulkiflihasan Mar 30, 2026 +8
For sometimes it's funny, but it feels more annoying
8
Maleficent_Key_1350 Mar 30, 2026 +9
I’m definitely more like you. It’s not that I dislike coworkers, I just hit a wall where the minute work ends I want my brain back. “I don’t hate badminton, I hate continuing to be a person from work after work” is honestly a very relatable stance.
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Loose-Zebra435 Mar 30, 2026 +5
I like seeing my coworkers outside of work, occasionally. I wouldn't commit myself to weekly badminton with them, mostly because I wouldn't want weekly badminton. If they were going for ice cream, I'd go every week. I think badminton would be too time-consuming. It's probably not half an hour in the yard. It's probably 2 hours at a badminton location you have to travel to
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OkYou7853 Mar 30, 2026 +2
totally get you, man. after a long workday, sometimes all you need is to kick back and recharge at home. it’s great that they bond over badminton, but you don't gotta force yourself into it if it’s not your thing.
2
Active_Recording_789 Mar 30, 2026 +2
I love playing volleyball with my coworkers after work during the week and I joined the work run club, but they often go for drinks on Friday nights too and I am done with everything by then usually. I just want to do stuff I feel like doing on whim by the end of the week
2
MrBeanDaddy86 Mar 30, 2026 +3
Maybe go once in a while, if you care about what they think? Otherwise it's probably fine, maybe. Depends on what' country you're in. You are on a US website asking for opinions, so take them with a grain of salt, haha. Societal norms vary **wildly** across countries.
3
shrugea Mar 30, 2026 +1
Nah, I agree. Once my contracted hours are up I want to go home and recharge my social battery. I like my coworkers and we go out for drinks every few months, but I absolutely wouldn't commit to an unpaid weekly activity. Personally, I don't like badminton, but even if I did, I wouldn't join. Maybe now and then, but I spend enough of my life at work, I want to enjoy the rent I pay for.
1
thebangzats Mar 30, 2026 +1
Devil's advocate: Sure, you are not contractually obligated to hang out with them. You have every right to go home and do what you want. But, freedom comes with a cost, sometimes. Opportunities often come from networking. Let's say you and half your coworkers all lose their jobs. Who do you think is going to get helped out first? Their close badminton buddy, or the antisocial guy who never wants to connect? Now, am I saying we should be social purely to take advantage of friendships? Be fake? Force your social battery to work overtime until it explodes? Of course not. However, I *am* saying that, **choosing not to be social** ***sometimes*** **has a cost**. I'd rather *train* my social battery to last longer and *learn* to enjoy other people's company, even just a little. Plenty of young people think "pfft I don't need anyone, I'll go at it my own way", then when they get older wonder why life feels so much harder for them. Nobody's giving them opportunities, nobody's giving them help, nobody's giving them a break, because technically that's what they asked for. You have the freedom to be alone. That can be both uplifting *and* terrifying.
1
SalaryNo8963 Mar 30, 2026 +1
povo chato do cacete, meu amigo você está completamente certo. Não estava no seu contrato quando você assinou que você seria obrigado a jogar isso, se não seria demitido. Ninguém vai te pagar horas extras se você for jogar. Cadê que chamam para jantar fora com tudo pago? A pessoa já se cansa o dia todo trabalhando e depois do expediente ainda é obrigado a continuar socializando com gente do trabalho? No dia que pagarem hora extra por isso talvez valerá a pena
1
FreePossession9590 Mar 30, 2026 +1
If it helps out I’m the exact same way as you. I can’t stand doing stuff with coworkers after work unless i consider them very close friends, and I have gotten a few over the years. I just want to go home, and not see those people any more that day lol. I don’t hate them, I just want to do something that doesn’t include seeing my coworkers - even if that means grocery shopping, cleaning at home etc. I see them for 8 hours a day every day, I don’t care to see them for 10-11 hours a day lmao
1
eldenchain Mar 30, 2026 +1
The struggle is real
1
quinn_baker296 Mar 30, 2026 +1
You don’t have to feel bad for wanting your own time after work. Just be honest with them about needing that space to recharge, and maybe suggest catching up over coffee instead - it keeps the connection without sacrificing your downtime.
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Fluffy-Recipe-2185 Mar 30, 2026 +1
i am 100 percent like you. it is not about the activity at all it is just that feelin of finaly being done for the day and wanting your time back i made the same misstake once by giving a random excuse and it kind of stuck as my personality at work. now i just say i am heading home to recharge and most people get it even if they joke a bit honestly i think a lot of people feel the same but just go along with it. nothin wrong with protecting your energy after a full day
1
johntwoods Mar 30, 2026
You have to spend 8 hours a day with these knuckleheads. There is absolutely no reason to *then* fraternize with them outside in your regular, human hours.
0
Top_Difference3488 Mar 30, 2026
I don't think I could play badminton after work I wouldn't have the energy and my body parts would probably fall off. But I also imagined you did go once and destroyed everyone. Then rumours started that you were a child prodigy and won some championships in your younger days but quit the sport 😂 for some reason but that's just my imagination running wild. I'd say if you have a good rapport with everyone and morale at work is good just do you.
0
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