Is it common in workplaces or am i being too rigid?
At my workplace I get along well with my colleagues. They're genuinely nice people, and I learn a lot from them professionally. The thing is, they often plan lunches, dinners, weekend outings, and other get-togethers, and as a bachelor, there's almost an expectation that I'll join because I "don't have other commitments."
The problem is that I like maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal life. Once work is over, I prefer having my own time or spending it with my close friends and family. I don't dislike my colleagues, and I don't have anything against socializing occasionally, but I don't want it to become an expectation.
I end up saying no quite often, always politely, but I still feel a little guilty or worry that I might come across as antisocial or uninterested.
Has anyone else felt this way? Is it normal to keep your work relationships mostly within office hours, or is frequent socializing with colleagues just part of workplace culture that I need to adapt to?