The UK's
Happiest
Routine
With the recent pandemic, people's lives and routines have changed completely.
We at *Rovva surveyed the UK to find out the happiest routine.
Let us know about your day to see how you stack up to the optimal UK routine for happiness.
*Rovva are a virtual offices provider
*+/- represents amount of hours your current schedule differs from the UK's happiest
The people of the UK have spoken, we surveyed just over 1000 people and the UK’s happiest schedule since the recent pandemic can now be revealed.
The results were calculated as an average of those who answered between 8 and 10 (10 being the highest happiness score) when asked about their overall happiness of their current schedule since the pandemic.
7 hours’ sleep per night doesn’t sound all that much but apparently the people of the UK function at their peak on just under the NHS guidance of 8 hours for adults - although they do state it can differ slightly from person to person.
As nice as it might sound, having no work to do doesn’t always make us happy. In fact, Brits are actually happiest when spending 7 hours of their day performing work-related tasks.
According to the latest report from the ONS, this is more than the current average of actual working hours, which equates to 6 hours per day.
Cleaning, cooking and other household tasks are a necessary part of life, and it seems Brits don’t mind allocating quite a bit of time per day, 2.5 hrs in fact, to making sure their homes are clean and tidy and putting fresh, home-cooked dinners on the table.
With so many working from home, there’s now more opportunity for us to find time for household tasks during a typical work day, in breaks and lunch times etc.
Getting more time back during the day for exercise has been great for residents of the UK.
NHS guidelines recommend a minimum of 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate exercise per week, but it seems the UK are happiest when doing much more than this. We prefer to stretch our legs for 85 mins per day - almost 10 hours a week!
The release of endorphins through physical activity has long been known to lift people's mood, so it’s no surprise that getting more than our minimum dose of exercise is what makes the nation happiest.
For our survey respondents, a hobby was defined as a proactive pastime, which includes things like arts, crafts, playing an instrument or learning something new.
Surprisingly, Brits manage to find a substantial 2.25 hours a day for hobbies, which is great news as these can benefit all aspects of your daily life.
Having a hobby has been known to help people de-stress, and the findings of a study conducted by the University of Sheffield found that participating in a hobby that presented different challenges to your work can actually increase your confidence at work.
Relaxing was defined as a passive activity for the purposes of our survey e.g. watching TV, listening to music etc., and it’s key to us to being able to unwind and de-stress after a long day. No wonder then, at 4 hours, we make it the second biggest activity in our happiest daily routines, after sleeping and working.
So don’t feel guilty about starting the next binge marathon on Netflix, a healthy dose of relaxation time is vital to staying happy.
*+/- represents amount of hours your current schedule differs from your demographics happiest
79% of the UK are content with their new routine since the pandemic, with those in the East Midlands feeling most content (88%)
80% of people in the UK say they are just as productive, if not more, with those working in HR (91%), Arts & Culture (88%) and Finance (84%) reporting the biggest boosts
71% say finances have improved or stayed the same
53% of the UK will try and keep their new routine after the pandemic has passed
61% of the UK say their perspective on life and what is important has changed, with women (64%) feeling stronger about this than men (58%)
75% of the UK see just as much or more of their family and friends now
The pursuit of happiness is no new concept but the recent pandemic has put sweeping limitations on our usual experiences, forcing people to reanalyse what they do, and can do, to be happy.
What’s happening is surprising and exciting. People are seeking richer experiences with limited means. And, through a better work-life balance without commutes and extended working hours, people are able to reconnect with the important activities of rest, hobbies, relationships, and self growth. Within my own practice, work-related stress levels have decreased. Allowed to continue, this will have a positive impact on our mental health.
Miss Cheryl Sandford Senior Accredited MBACP - Counsellor & Psychotherapist - University of Chester Doctoral Student: Psychological Trauma
