6 Things You’ll Relate to If You Actually Can’t Stand the Beach

While some people dream all year about the chance to travel to the coast and visit the beach to enjoy the sun and surf, we can't say we're among them.

Maybe it's because we grew up not too far from the beach and have come to take it for granted, but instead of seeing it as a vibrant vacation destination, we associate time by the shore with feelings of discomfort and overwhelm. If you feel the same, we bet you'll relate to these six big things.

You Don't Find It as Relaxing as It Should Be

As much as we like to imagine laying in a chair by the beach, sipping something yummy in peace and solitude to the sound of crashing waves, that rarely seems to be the case. Instead, beach visits can be downright stressful, and it begins before you're even on the beach. Beach parking is often difficult to find, as well as quite pricey, and the process is made more exhausting if you've driven a long while to get there.

When you get to the beach itself, it's often crowded with people—especially when the weather cooperates. If you came to chill and relax, you're likely to get interrupted by running feet and errant beach balls, making you feel like you have zero privacy. Plus, trying to fuel your body can be a bother. Whether you bring your own food from home or grab something pricey nearby, it's tough to enjoy a meal without being harassed by pesky seagulls looking for a bite.

 

(via Unsplash)

 

You Hate Sand

Remember when Anakin Skywalker said, "I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere," in Attack of the Clones? If you're not a big beach person, you just might know that line by heart, because you agree with every word.

Wet or dry, sand is uncomfortable against the skin, and can even cause irritation if you don't deal with it properly. Even worse, it feels like sand follows you everywhere you go, regardless of whether you clean off thoroughly at the beach. Days or even weeks later you're likely to find it on your person, in the nooks and crannies of your belongings and all over the inside of your car. The sand just refuses to go away!

If you're like us, you may also hate the mere sensation of walking on sand. It's icky to get between your feet and flip-flops, but you prefer even that to being barefoot, scalding the soles of your feet on hot sand, as well as stepping on sharp pieces of shells, branches, rocks and litter hiding everywhere.

 

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You're Sensitive to the Heat and Sun

Some of us just don't do well with too much sun, no matter how hard we work to stay hydrated. The heat and brightness of the beach can make you feel like it's way hotter than it actually is, so you wind up lightheaded, weak or even nauseous. Plus, beaches are often humid, so even sweating offers little relief from the heat.

A lot of sun exposure can also be downright deadly if you're not careful. Some people burn easily, and it doesn't seem to matter how much sunblock you wear or how often you reapply it. Rather than being left with a flattering tan, you might get an unsightly red and inflamed burn pattern in the shape of your bathing suit that itches, burns and peels as it recovers. Burning can even increase chances of getting skin cancer, so we prefer to avoid that mess altogether if we can.

 

You Feel Overexposed in a Swimsuit

It's hard to let loose and fully live in the moment when you're not entirely confident in your skin, and it's almost expected when you go to the beach that you'll be in a two-piece swimsuit as a woman or shirtless with trunks as a man. It's practically guaranteed that that's more skin than you're used to showing off, so even if you are typically comfortable in your body, you might feel a little shy, and if you have any struggles with body image, this may make you want to fully retreat. It's also annoying when wearing an outfit with fuller coverage prompts questions about why you're not in a bathing suit or going swimming. The good news is that others will be dressed similarly, to take some pressure off, but it doesn't always make it easier.

(via Shutterstock)

 

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You Find It Just Plain Boring

What's worse than feeling drained by a combination of beating sun and salty water at the beach? Also being bored out of your mind during this time. Of course, there are plenty of beach activities to keep people occupied, between swimming and surfing, building sandcastles and playing volleyball or soccer on the sand, but if these things aren't up your alley, you might be out of luck. You'd rather do just about anything than laying there, doing nothing, as you suntan, and maybe you'd be able to read, if the environment wasn't so loud and distracting. The blasting sun probably also makes it so you can barely see your phone screen, which takes browsing social media off the table, too.

 

The Ocean Freaks You Out

Even if you're a strong swimmer, there's no denying that the ocean can be a treacherous place. People of all abilities and ages get swept out to sea by swept out to see by rip currents all the time, and even less dangerous occurrences like getting smacked by big waves out of nowhere can leave their mark and make us less willing to venture into the water in the future.

And then, there's the fact that the ocean is, by nature, full of wildlife. We know the chances of getting nabbed by a shark are low, but it still lingers in the back of our minds, and we've witnessed more than a few beach jellyfish stings in our time. As tempting as the cool water may seem, we bet you also mostly stay clear.

(via Unsplash)

 

Just because you don't care for the beach doesn't mean you don't love the earth. Click HERE for 10 planet-centric lyrics to use as your next caption.