United Kingdom turmoil: 3 in 4 British adults admit they lack joy in their lives

Westminster, London at night. (Photo by Deniz Fuchidzhiev on Unsplash)

LONDON — With British prime minister Liz Truss announcing her resignation, things in the United Kingdom seem to keep getting worse. While the UK must now scramble to figure out who will be the next prime minister, its citizens continue to deal with more political and economic stress. It’s no surprise, to that end, that a new survey finds three in four Brits admit they lack joy in their lives.

With that in mind, 78 percent say they’re creating “little lifts” to add a bit of “oomph” during tough times. The poll of 2,000 adults (taken prior to Truss’ resignation) finds two in five blame their lackluster feelings on the ongoing challenges with the cost-of-living crisis — better known as inflation.

However, 61 percent are actively looking to inject more pleasure into their life, with a third keen to have a daily pick-me-up. Snuggling up under fresh bed sheets, binge watching TV shows, and someone cooking a favorite dinner are among the top moments people enjoy.

Meanwhile, receiving packages in the mail, having that first cup of tea or coffee in a morning, and receiving an unexpected gift also bring a smile. Over half the poll (52%) benefit more from everyday moments of joy than less frequent bigger celebrations. Another 48 percent seek out smaller moments of joy to spend more time doing fun things with friends and family. The study also found people gain great happiness from food (21%) and beverages (11%).

The research, commissioned by Sainsbury’s supermarket and conducted by OnePoll, partnered with psychologist Emma Kenny to encourage people to find small moments of joy to help with their mental well-being.

“With the cost of living increasing, it’s no surprise people are thinking more short-term and seeking more daily moments of joy that they can share with family and friends,” Kenny says in a statement.

“Food is integral to helping us feel good, bringing people together and creating connections, but it also plays a big part in our mental wellbeing. It’s important to find those moments of joy.”

The study also found food and drink can enhance many of our moments of joy, with chocolate, wine, and roasted dinners especially effective. Those polled turn to chocolate when binge watching TV shows and when enjoying movie nights at home.

Wine is the drink of choice when adults want to dance to their favorite song. A roasted dinner is the meal many most like to be treated to if someone was to surprise them with a meal.