Personally I used to hate gathering (I still don't like crafting).

But after I got my Zeta weapon and had about a month and a half to kill until HW, I decided "you know what, I have time I'm going to get my miner Lucis". Now before they super nerfed the Lucis tools, that was pretty much the fastest way to get to hate yourself. But I did it anyway. Along the way I made tons of money (and promptly spent it on gathering tools and gear). I barely did any combat that last stretch, only doing stuff if friends asked me to. Everything else was geared towards gathering. I found out a lot of stuff:
-fishing is very relaxing
-selling ore to the crafters makes me ton of money
-botany sucks no matter what because who cares about plants (joking sorta)

I'm not trying to say "take a month off to level your gathering" (it doesn't take a month anyway but the point is there). I am saying though, what do you NOT like about crafting/gathering? Maybe if you try to look at it a different way, you may turn it into an activity you like. Like for me, gathering is MONEY and RELAXATION (one button fishing ftw). Even after maxing out my Goldsmith I can see why my crafting friends really like to do it. I was trying my hand out at some higher level crafts (and remember I'm not an omnicrafter so I don't have all the crossclass skills). It's insanely challenging if you haven't been crafting for 2+ years like some people. I'd probably like it more if no HQ =/= thousands of gil lost. But thinking up "which crafting rotation is the best for me?" is actually a bit fun.
Not fun enough to make me a full time crafter, but it's there.

/pet