NEW YORK — Wondering why you still haven’t received a response to a text you sent days ago? A new study finds many people think they need help with this simple task — and many more. More than half of Americans (59%) say they “always” or “often” find themselves wishing they could find an easier way to do the tasks they dislike.
A survey of 2,000 adults reveals that these unfavorable tasks include meal planning (52%), responding to texts (46%), looking ahead at their workday (43%), and planning their travel (37%). Overall, the average American spends 48 minutes planning for the following day, with men spending longer than women (52 minutes vs. 44 minutes).
So, is all the planning worth it? Three-quarters of respondents admit that they spend too much time planning for things that go by in the blink of an eye, like what outfit they will wear to work or the food they will eat on vacation (76%).
Conducted by OnePoll for Apple Vacations, the survey finds that respondents wouldn’t mind having help when it comes to doing their laundry (47%) and planning their vacation (32%). Others could use a hand shopping for their groceries (33%), cooking dinner (38%), and organizing their calendar (37%).
To get through these tasks more easily, Americans get products or groceries delivered through auto-subscriptions (54%), multitask (50%), use “autofill” on their phone (50%), and get help from a travel planner (48%).
“Prospective travelers oftentimes feel overwhelmed when planning a vacation due to the amount of steps that need to be checked off the to-do list. To combat the stress, travelers should consider ways to combine steps such as by building their flights and hotel stays. In addition, all-inclusive resorts also take a lot of the guesswork out of vacation planning as meals and activities are included, leaving more time for travelers to pick out the best book to read on the beach,” shares spokesperson Dana Studebaker, the Vice President of Marketing for Consumer Brands at Apple Vacations, in a statement.
Although they sometimes may need another set of hands, 35 percent of those surveyed say they have difficulty asking for help from others. When they do get around to asking for help, a majority admit they’d be worried that the tasks wouldn’t be done to their standards (81%).
Giving up control may be necessary, though, especially for those who wish they could “skip to the good part” of time-consuming activities like enjoying a vacation after planning it (57%), moving into the home of their dreams (50%), and having a fresh home after cleaning (14%).
The survey also asked respondents about how they go about making travel decisions and found that eight in 10 agree that they’d want to spend as little time as possible planning and as much time as possible enjoying their vacation (83%). Planning, even if they’re not the ones doing it, is necessary to achieve this since more respondents are at ease when they have their travel days scheduled in advance (55%).
A majority of Americans claim that they’re usually the ones who take the lead on making travel plans (58%), and an overwhelming 88 percent of these respondents wish they could be on the other side of enjoying a vacation without being the one in charge. Many are trying to get ahead of the curve as the average person surveyed is currently planning two trips about five months from now.
“Taking the easy road is nothing to be ashamed of. It simply gives people time back in their lives to focus on the things that are important to them. With so many online tools and resources out there to help make daily tasks more efficient, it can be a badge of honor to get through mundane tasks and have more time for the main events,” says spokesperson Greta Hidalgo North America Sales Director for Catalonia Hotels & Resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. “For example, instead of researching dozens of individual hotel websites looking for the best deal, online travel agencies can inspire and book your vacation in just a few clicks.”
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Apple Vacations between October 18 and October 20, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Good lord … Americans have become weak and dull-witted
I would suggest … LAZY.
Those items listed that are too hard for about a third of the population are simple life’s daily chores. One need not struggle with planning stuff … Think about it for a bit and make a decision. If you need information to make a more informed decision… use the internet, it’s loaded with answers.
In addition to doing all the cooking and grocery shopping I ran a small service business for 35 years where there were hundreds of things to be done everyday. I was a one man operation …. I had a busy life and now retired at 80, I still cook and do all the chore that need to be done.,
My wife doesn’t cook and I like to cook. She does other chores that I prefer to not do, but we both are capable and willing to do other things that need to be done … without anyone’s help.
I think a lot of the whiny clowns who can rise to a text should read Jordan Peterson to understand what they should be doing in life.
Oops
clowns who CAN’T rise to a text
The thing with texting is that the emotion doesn’t come through. In person, you can say something and people know you are joking, or just trying to be sympathetic. A text can be interpreted differently, depending on the mood the person is in. And you can never be sure what kind of mood the other person is in. Or the person could be just having a bad day.