One extra hour in bed, two arguments a day, 4.5 hours of TV watched, three alcoholic drinks consumed and five hours lounging on the sofa - this is the average day for lockdown Brits, according to a new study.
Researchers from cash savings service Raisin, took an in-depth look at life for self-isolating Brits and uncovered a host of fascinating stats.
84 percent admit their daily life has been turned upside down since lockdown began. And for most, that means rolling out of bed at 8:40am - nearly an hour later than we used to (7:45am).
According to the report, the nation is currently enjoying lunch at the later time of 1:10 pm and having dinner much earlier now at 6.35pm, but will consume three cups of tea, three cups of coffee and spend FIVE hours a day online.
Each week we’ll end up online shopping three times and have two parcels dropped outside our homes. We will also load and unload the dishwasher three times a week and spend three hours of video calling friends or colleagues every day.
The data revealed we put on four loads of washing every week, spend a staggering three hours reading or watching the news and listen to 2.6 hours of radio a day.
Cleanliness is next to godliness as 72 percent admit to doing more household chores than before. Brits are keeping busy by cleaning the bathroom three times, hoovering four times and mopping the floors three times a week.
And it appears that any previous healthy eating habits are no longer a priority since the average Brit is consuming an extra 333 calories a day. Given that the most popular lockdown snack of choice is cheese on toast for 22 percent of the nation, this is hardly surprising.
Other popular calorific snacks for Brits during lockdown include cheese and onion crisps (21 percent), bacon sandwiches (19 percent), chocolate cake (19 percent) and cheese and crackers (18 percent).
And that’s not all - the average Brit is continuing to comfort eat by consuming two portions of ice cream, two chocolate bars and 2.5 slices of pizza a DAY.
When it comes to arguments in each household, nearly a quarter of us (24 percent) admitted to arguing over silly things we wouldn’t usually disagree on, someone slacking off on the cleaning and chores around the house (20 percent), what to watch on TV (18 percent) and people being too noisy (16 percent). One in ten (12 percent) even admit to arguing about when lockdown is going to be over.
However, three-quarters of us (76 percent) admit that they are grateful to be self-isolating with others, although 27 percent confess it can be challenging at times.
In fact, half of the nation (48 percent) say that the thing they miss most about life before lockdown is being able to see friends and family.
The nation is also really missing the freedom they had pre lockdown since 35 percent can’t wait for a holiday, 38 percent want to hit the shops and 35 percent miss going for coffee or drinks with loved ones.
Finances also play an important part in the nation’s week, as we opt to organise our finances up to 1.5 times per week. We’re also pining for more structure in the working week, since we’re missing differentiating the week from the weekend (23 percent), getting that ‘Friday’ feeling (23 percent) and even commuting to work (14 percent).
Kevin Mountford, co-founder for cash savings service, Raisin.co.uk, which commissioned the study said: ”It's safe to say that it's been a turbulent few weeks for the nation, with more testing times ahead. And while time in lockdown has seen some negatives, it’s extremely encouraging to see the positive aspects people are doing with their extra time; whether taking up a new hobby or finally getting around to organising our finances.
“At raisin.co.uk spending just 10 minutes organising your hard-earned savings could earn you £hundreds more than if you left them in a low paying interest account. With extra times on our hands, getting to grips with our finances and savings now will help put us secure our financial future.”
The British nation is taking the opportunity to take up new hobbies with the extra time they have at home. One of the most popular things to do is read more (23 percent), but plenty of Brits are spending more time in the kitchen than ever before. 22 percent are channelling their inner Delia by cooking things they’ve never tried, one in five are getting stuck into baking cakes and 13 percent are even making their own bread.
Rest and relaxation have become an important part of life in lockdown for most, as we’re spending up to two hours every day on at-home beauty treatments from face masks to long hot baths.
We’re also trying to keep fit while self-isolating since 16 percent have created a new or improved fitness regime. For one in ten, this means running (11 percent) or yoga (ten percent), while eight percent are trying out cycling.
However, over a third (35 percent) of us confess to using time in lockdown simply to watch extra TV than normal. And an inspiring four percent are even crafting their own novel.
