Just an average day of time-wasting
Rebecca McCosh presents an eye-opening analysis of how we're really spending our time.
Answer honestly now, how productive has your day been so far? Now think bigger. A new study of 3,000 UK adults, commissioned to mark the launch of the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch, has revealed how we’re spending (and wasting) our time, and I for one have been left in a bit of an existential quandary after reading the results. Did you know for example, the average Brit spends a total of eight years, three months and 20 days of their life watching TV? As much as I’m hooked on Netflix’s Narcos, I can’t help but question if this is a good use of my time.
If you’re looking to make a change, the following figures might just be the kick up the butt you need to start living life to the full. Here’s how the average UK adult is wasting their time…
Eight years, three months and 20 days watching TV
I hold my hands up and admit this figure is probably bang on - last year alone I spent a total of 46 hours watching Breaking Bad and over 77 hours watching Sons of Anarchy – that’s nearly a full week of my life right there.
Three years, 10 days on social media
This sounds a little excessive but I guess when you count the endless hours filtering and carefully curating ‘natural’ selfies, this adds up.
One year, seven months commuting
Jazz up your journey and make better use of your time by taking up a hobby – knitting for example. But only if you’re commuting by bus or train obviously. Those driving along the bypass just have to make do with muttering obscenities about the driver in front.
One year, three months working outside contracted hours
As if working 9-5 wasn’t bad enough, apparently we’re working a full 15 months on top of our contracted hours. That's an extra 15 months of our lives spent with the Dwight Schrutes of the world. Why are we doing this to ourselves?!
One year at pubs and bars
Apparently the average Brit makes 3,407 visits to their local drinking establishment throughout the course of their life, although I’m pretty sure I racked up that figure during my first year at uni alone.
Seven months queuing
Us Brits have a bit of a reputation for being pretty good at queuing so it makes sense we would devote so much time to it.
One month arguing
Watch out, apparently we'll all have 4,226 arguments during our lifetime. Yes we will. Yeeeeees we will. Deal with it. End of.
One day, six hours crying
I’m not ashamed to admit I probably spent these 30 hours having a proper red, puffy-faced, ugly cry when I reached the end of the aforementioned Sons of Anarchy.