THE average Brit spends two and a half hours a day on autopilot.
A poll of 2,000 adults found they spend much of their time doing things with little conscious thought or awareness – like commuting, making lunch, getting dressed, and making small talk.
A poll of 2,000 adults found they spend much of their time doing things with little conscious thought[/caption]
A new London mural aims to “jolt passers-by out of autopilot”[/caption]
The study found that thirty-five per cent of Brits worry life is passing them by[/caption]
Almost a quarter (23 per cent) go through the motions when grocery shopping, while 22 per cent do so when cooking, and the same number go into this mode when doing housework.
This tendency to enter autopilot leads 35 per cent to regularly worry life is passing them by, with 68 per cent eager to switch things up and do more memorable things.
The research was commissioned by Maryland S’wich, which has teamed up with creative studio, 3D Joe and Max to create an optical illusion at London’s King’s Cross station.
Unveiled on September 25, the 3D artwork makes the floor appear as if it has been ripped apart, revealing a utopian underground filled with colour, greenery, and giant cookie sandwiches.
The mural, which took 176 hours to build and is seven by five metres in size, was designed to “jolt passers-by out of autopilot”.
A spokesperson for the biscuit brand said: “We found that Brits are struggling with slipping into autopilot and spending too much time each day going through the motions, not taking note of what’s important.
“We believe switching things up, particularly mundane tasks, to make them more fun is a great way to be more present which is why we commissioned this piece.
“We spend so much time looking down at our phones, so we wanted to challenge this, and give commuters something more joyful to look down at.”
The study also found as many as 20 per cent of adults feel disconnected in everyday life, which might explain why 70 per cent want to feel more “present, alive, and joyful” in general.
They’re also motivated by a desire to appreciate the weekend (36 per cent), time with family (34 per cent), and even time alone (23 per cent).
It also emerged that while 65 per cent consider living on autopilot to simply be a part of adulthood, 31 per cent believe they spend too much time in this mode.
While those who think they’re susceptible to going into autopilot typically do so four times a day, according to the research via OnePoll.
And the biggest causes of it are repetition (34 per cent), tiredness (25 per cent), and boredom (20 per cent).
TOP 30 TASKS BRITS DO ON AUTOPILOT
1. Cleaning your teeth
2. Washing up
3. Showering/bathing
4. Watching TV
5. Getting dressed
6. Making a cup of tea or coffee
7. Turning off lights
8. Washing and folding laundry
9. Scrolling on your phone
10. Eating meals
11. Doing housework
12. Checking emails
13. Putting on shoes
14. Putting the bins out
15. Grocery shopping
16. Locking up the house
17. Cooking/preparing a meal
18. Driving
19. Checking the weather
20. Filling the dishwasher
21. Changing the bedsheets
22. My job
23. Commuting daily
24. Feeding pets
25. Styling your hair
26. Setting an alarm
27. Personal admin
28. Deciding what to make for dinner
29. Small talk
30. Applying make-up
The average Brit spends two and a half hours a day on autopilot.[/caption]
Cleaning your teeth is amongst the top tasks Brits do on autopilot[/caption]
3D artwork at London’s King’s Cross station makes the floor appear as if it has been ripped apart[/caption]
The artwork reveals a utopian underground filled with colour, greenery, and giant cookie sandwiches[/caption]
Creative studio 3D Joe and Max made the artwork[/caption]
The mural took 176 hours to create and is seven by five metres in size[/caption]
