(© Mariakray - stock.adobe.com)
NEW YORK — Who says it’s a bad thing to simply sit around and veg out all day? In a recent survey, Americans revealed they need an average of 60 “lazy days” per year to feel truly rested and relaxed. That’s more than one a week!
The poll, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Berkshire Blanket & Home Co., uncovered the importance of taking time to unwind and the anatomy of the perfect do-nothing day. The survey found that 72% of Americans are likely to keep their lazy days a secret, preferring to fly under the radar rather than tell others they’re taking a day to relax at home. Sunday (39%) and Saturday (27%) emerged as the most popular days for lazy activities, while Tuesday was named the least popular (5%).
During a typical lazy day, the average person spends two hours lying in bed, an hour eating, three hours binge-watching, an hour reading, and two hours scrolling on their phone. Remarkably, three hours are spent doing absolutely nothing, two hours are spent napping, and a full hour is devoted to dreading the next day.
“In honor of National Lazy Day, we wanted to see how Americans rest and rejuvenate during a much needed-lazy day,” says Mei Higgins, vice president of merchandising of Berkshire Blanket & Home Co., in a statement. “Everyone deserves a rest day here and there, maybe even a bit more often, and days like these are so important when it comes to wellness. The study even found that almost three in four people (74%) said lazy days are crucial when it comes to self-care.”
The study revealed the top feelings that prompt Americans to take lazy days are low mood and energy (55%), burnout (39%), and feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities (34%). A third even admitted they’ll take a lazy day if they want to avoid people, and one in ten (9%) said an existential crisis is enough to warrant a day of rest.
When it comes to lazy day activities, most (58%) will kick back on the couch, while some (4%) said they spend most of their time lying on the floor. The majority (75%) are more likely to spend the day lounging around if the weather is cool and gloomy.
“If you weren’t planning to already, we encourage everyone to spend some time simply resting and relaxing on Aug. 10,” says Higgins. “Giving yourself time to do nothing will go a long way towards health and happiness. And cultivating the perfect cozy space to relax in is key. Gathering cozy essentials and designing a relaxing space is part of self-care.”
Survey methodology
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Berkshire Blanket & Home Co. and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between July 15 and July 19.
