By Nathan Lee
The average Brit spends nearly six years of their life in a daydream, a new study reveals.
A study into the ways in which people while away the hours with dreams big and small found respondents spent just over two hours per day lost in far-flung thoughts.
That equates to 799 hours per year and, when projected across the average 64 year adult lifespan, equates to more than five years and 11 months.
The research also documented our top 50 most common daydreams – winning the lottery proved the most popular, while the desire to travel or simply see more sunshine in this country regularly occupies our minds.
The daydreams study of 2,000 people found we also indulge ourselves in thoughts of owning the ultimate home, getting the ideal figure, planning future weddings and dreaming of the perfect holiday.
The research, which was commissioned by Synseal, found dreams of owning several properties at home and abroad, having the budget for home improvements or eliminating debt also proved prominent.
Saying what you really think of the boss, telling a crush you like them and finally writing a book were also named among the 50 most common daydreams for the British public.
Over a third of workers say they daydream constantly through their commute – racking up over half an hour.
And the dreaming carries on even while Brits are on the clock with three quarters of Brits confessing that they regularly daydream for up to an hour on paid time.
More than half of those polled regularly fantasise about improving their home- a quarter said they have identified properties in the local area they would love to own even though they are way over budget.
Hope is strong with many a Brit though and a third regularly buys a lottery ticket trying to get their dreams to materialise.
Although daydreaming can be enough to get by on – six in 10 Brits said their daydreams genuinely do make them happy.
27 per cent of those polled also admitted to spending time on estate agent websites looking at properties that far exceed their budget, while having a Pinterest page or collection of pictures/websites specifically for far-fetched dreams was also common.
A spokesman for Synseal said: “The results of our insightful poll reveal that adults living right across the UK regularly indulge in a wide variety of daydreams today and the good news is that for many of us they are a source of genuine happiness!”
BRITAIN’S 50 MOST COMMON DAYDREAMS
Winning the lottery
Getting to travel the world
Looking forward to better weather
Old childhood memories
Going on a particular holiday
Moving into a lovely big house
Travelling to a certain country
Having no debt
Get rich quick schemes
Making millions from some amazing idea
Being able to go back in time
Writing a book
Having your perfect body
Being able to speak different languages with ease
What you’re going to have for lunch / dinner
Having an unlimited budget for clothes/furniture/shoes/home improvements
Landing your dream job
Getting back in touch with an old friend
Being a clothing size smaller, or several clothing sizes smaller
Getting a massive pay rise
Getting revenge on a bully or someone who has wronged you
Owning a second home abroad
Being treated to a surprise weekend away
Family together at Christmas
Being mortgage free
Getting rid of your beer belly
Having your ideal hair
Being able to eat loads without getting fat
Being able to fly
Handing in your notice
Being your own boss / running your own business
Bumping into your ex
Going freelance/starting own business
Having a housekeeper / cleaner
Meeting your favourite celebrity
Your crush tells you they are besotted with you
Living ‘back to basics’ e.g. grow own veg, solar powered house etc.
Improving your home with an open-plan kitchen
Owning a sports car
How your house would look with different wall colours
Owning several properties in the UK
Telling your boss what you really think of them
Getting married
Getting your teeth straightened/cosmetic surgery
Being a virtuoso at a musical instrument
Getting a promotion
Turning up at home to find someone has ‘done it all up’ for you
Living in a mansion
Saving someone’s life with a heroic act
Having children