Americans reveal number of ‘lazy days’ they need per year & how they spend them – & they even plan them weeks in advance
A NEW study found that Americans need a shocking amount of lazy days per year to feel rested and relaxed.
A poll of 2000 Americans unveiled the average amount of days people need to do nothing is around 60 days, or almost two whole months.
As National Lazy Day approaches on August 10, the survey investigated how the average person leverages days doing nothing for self-care and what makes up a perfect do-nothing day.
“In honor of National Lazy Day, we wanted to see how Americans rest and rejuvenate during a much needed-lazy day,” said Mei Higgins, vice president of merchandising of Berkshire Blanket & Home Co.
“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.”
To no one’s surprise, Americans are not laid-back about their days off.
One in five of the survey takers said they plan their lazy days in advance, and 67% opted to take their lazy days spontaneously.
However, a forward-thinking few even put their do-nothing days on the calendar a few weeks ahead.
The poll conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Berkshire Blanket & Home Co. found that almost three-quarters of lazy days are likely to fly under the radar, and respondents won’t tell others they’re taking a day to relax at home.
When it comes to lazy day activities, or lack thereof, respondents shared how much time they spend attached to their phones, lounging around, and soaking in self-care.
On a typical lazy day, the average person spends two hours lying in bed, an hour eating, three hours binge-watching movies and TV, an hour reading, and two hours scrolling.
Several hours are spent doing nothing, with a couple of hours spent napping and a full hour generally devoted to dreading the next day.
Sounds like a typical case of the Sunday scaries.
Low energy, burnout, and the overwhelming feeling of responsibility are the top reasons prompting lazy days, the study concluded.
A third of those polled even admitted they’ll take a lazy day if they want to avoid people, and one in ten said an existential crisis is enough to warrant a lazy day.
Americans ideal day of laziness
An ideal lazy day includes:
3 hours watching movies and TV
3 hours doing absolutely nothing
3 hours simply sitting and enjoying one’s living space
2 hours in bed
2 hours scrolling on one’s phone
2 hours napping
1 hour eating
1 hour reading
1 hour listening to an audiobook or podcast
1 hour dreading the next day
Around 75% of respondents are more likely to spend their lazy day lounging around if the weather is cool and gloomy.
Top essentials for do-nothing days, according to respondents, are a comfy outfit and a cozy blanket or throw, along with a clean home, a shower and ample junk food.
For those wondering, the agreed-upon ideal lazy day outfit is breathable and lightweight. And the perfect cozy blanket is fluffy and big enough for two.
“If you weren’t planning to already, we encourage everyone to spend some time simply resting and relaxing on Aug. 10,” said 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.
They sourced from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:
- Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
- Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in
Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.
Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.
Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.
Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:
- Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
- Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
- Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
- Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once
It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.