Some hobbies and pastimes get labelled as universally fun, but for more low-key people, they’re anything but.
Whether it’s the noise, the pressure, or just the sheer intensity, these so-called good times feel more like something to endure than enjoy. For the record, this doesn’t make them boring or antisocial, it just means they have a different idea of what it means to have a good time. If only more people respected that—life would go a whole lot more smoothly.
1. Group holidays with daily schedules
The idea of a trip with friends sounds lovely until the itinerary hits. Early wake-ups, group excursions, and zero time for doing nothing? That’s not a break—it’s a full-time job disguised as leisure. Low-key people crave rest on holiday, not forced activities at every turn. Having to explain that you’d rather nap by the pool than go ziplining again can feel like a crime against friendship.
2. Bottomless brunch with endless small talk
What sounds like a fun, social Saturday often becomes a test of stamina. Between the noisy setting, the bottomless drinks pressure, and being surrounded by people you barely know, it’s a lot. For someone who prefers a quiet morning and a strong coffee, being dragged into high-energy chat before noon feels more like a punishment than a treat. The pancakes can’t even save it.
3. Escape rooms with intense people
There’s always one person who turns it into a competition. Suddenly, you’re locked in a fake room while someone’s barking orders and insisting you “focus harder” on the clues. It stops being about fun the second people take it too seriously. For low-key types, the whole thing feels like being trapped at a team-building day that nobody signed up for.
4. Festival weekends with no personal space
While some people thrive in the chaos of mud, crowds, and constant noise, others look at a packed festival and see an introvert’s worst-case scenario with a £300 price tag. It’s not the music—it’s the overstimulation. Queuing for a portaloo, yelling over bass, and trying to sleep in a noisy tent just doesn’t sound like a good time to someone who values quiet and comfort.
5. Loud boat parties with nowhere to escape
The sea breeze might be nice, but being stuck on a boat full of strangers, blaring music, and nowhere to quietly sit down? No thanks. It’s a floating panic attack for some people. Low-key people want options. If you can’t quietly leave the party without needing a life jacket, it’s not their vibe. A calm ferry ride is one thing—a club at sea is another.
6. Karaoke nights with peer pressure
Singing in public isn’t everyone’s dream, but there’s always someone trying to shove a mic in your face while shouting “Don’t be boring!” like that’s supposed to be convincing. Watching friends sing is fine—fun, even. But being forced into it just makes it awkward. Not wanting to perform doesn’t mean you hate fun, it just means you prefer it offstage.
7. Paintballing or laser tag with full-grown competitiveness
There’s a level of energy in these games that’s hard to match. People get too into it, strategy becomes shouting, and before you know it, someone’s dive-rolling behind barrels like it’s a warzone. Low-key people don’t mind a bit of friendly competition—but the bruises, the yelling, and the feeling of being hunted down for sport? That’s not how they want to spend their Saturday.
8. Speed dating and party mixers
Source: Unsplash The idea of meeting new people can be appealing—until it involves cycling through conversations with strangers under fluorescent lighting and a stopwatch. For more reserved types, these events are the opposite of connection. They’re a blur of rehearsed small talk, performance smiles, and the pressure to impress before the bell rings.
9. Dance classes where everyone’s filming themselves
Learning a routine can be fun—until you’re surrounded by people performing for the camera while trying to make it go viral. Suddenly you’re not dancing, you’re part of a social media set. Low-key people don’t want to be the background of someone’s TikTok. They just wanted to move a bit, not be part of an audition for internet fame.
10. Team sports weekends with shouty organisers
What’s pitched as “just a bit of fun” quickly becomes competitive chaos. There’s always someone taking it too seriously and someone else yelling strategy you don’t understand. For chill personalities, this feels more like PE lessons revisited. The fun drains out quickly when you’re stuck in a group sport you didn’t ask for, being told to “get in there” when you’d rather not.
11. Pub crawls in fancy dress
What starts as a night out ends up as a trek across five venues, often wearing an outfit you’d never normally leave the house in. There’s always a group photo. Always. For someone who likes one cosy pint in one familiar pub, the idea of moving every hour in a themed costume feels less like fun and more like a logistical and social marathon.
12. Flash mobs or surprise group dances
Whether you’re invited or just nearby, flash mobs are overwhelming to witness and even worse to be a part of. The loud music, the forced cheer—none of it feels spontaneous when it’s clearly been rehearsed. Low-key people aren’t trying to ruin the mood—they just prefer their joy a little more private, and preferably not choreographed in front of strangers.
13. Surprise parties
They’re meant to feel thoughtful, but if you prefer calm and low-key connections, being ambushed by noise and attention is not the dream. Especially if you’re the type to need mental prep before social events. The effort is appreciated, but the experience can feel more like being cornered than celebrated. Sometimes the nicest gift is not having to pretend to enjoy being the centre of attention.
14. Silent discos
On paper, they seem like the perfect balance—music without noise pollution. But the reality of people singing loudly to themselves in mismatched rhythms? It’s oddly disorienting and hard to enjoy. Low-key people often prefer music they can feel, not perform. Watching other people dance in silence feels more surreal than energising, and for some, it’s a step too far into quirky discomfort.
15. Hen or stag weekends abroad
Endless group chats, itineraries, matching t-shirts, and the pressure to “make it epic”—it’s a lot. Especially when you don’t know half the people or don’t want to party for three days straight. For more mellow types, this feels like a socially exhausting assignment. A quiet dinner with close friends feels like more of a celebration than a chaotic mini-holiday with a schedule.
16. Anything that requires you to be “on” all night
From game nights to themed parties, some events just require constant energy. Being switched on, social, funny, and responsive for hours can leave low-key people totally drained. They’re not antisocial; they just don’t want every evening to feel like a performance. Fun doesn’t have to be loud, and connection doesn’t have to come with a spotlight.
17. Icebreakers and “getting to know you” games
Being forced to share facts about yourself with a group of strangers doesn’t scream fun to everyone. For many, it’s the worst way to start any gathering. There’s a reason low-key people dread these—they don’t build trust, they just create surface-level discomfort. If connection is the goal, a simple chat over tea works much better.
18. Constant selfies and “let’s document everything” vibes
For some, capturing the moment means constant photos, videos, and filters. But for low-key people, having a camera pointed at them all day can feel like surveillance dressed up as fun. Sometimes being present means not needing to capture it. Quiet types often just want to enjoy the day without having to curate it for social media.
19. Loud trivia nights with yelling and heckling
Pub quizzes are fun until the atmosphere turns competitive and shouty. When teams get rowdy and the host acts like a game show presenter, it’s no longer relaxing. Low-key players just want a bit of friendly fun, not a shouting match over which year a film came out. Volume doesn’t equal excitement when you’re wired for calm.
20. “Let’s do something spontaneous!”
This phrase makes some people light up and other people want to crawl under a blanket. For low-key people, last-minute plans with no clear ending or purpose are pure stress. Spontaneity isn’t the enemy, but not everyone thrives in the unknown. For some, fun includes knowing where, when, and how they’ll get home. That’s not boring. That’s peace.
