NEWS COPY
The average Brit reckons their life is only 29 per cent fun, a study has found.
A poll, of 2,000 adults, revealed the average Brit considers less than a third of their day to be fun, with the rest of the time taken up by work, chores and things they need to do, but don't really want to.
One in 10 even admitted they feel they are completely missing fun from their lives, with another 53 per cent saying they only really feel truly alive at the weekends.
More than half feel they aren’t living life to the full at the moment and 88 per cent feel like they need to make more of their life.
It also emerged going on holiday or travelling is one of the most fun things to do in life, followed by a night out with friends, skiing and going to a live music gig.
Inge Solheim, an internationally recognised polar guide and spokesperson for Helly Hansen, which commissioned the study, said: “You only get one life, so it’s a shame to see that so many people aren’t filling their time with activities that make them feel alive.
“Unfortunately, having to work, a lack of time and little money can put a stop of many of the fun things people would like to do.
“But this just makes it all the more important to find a profession that fulfills you, to make the most of the spare time you do have and to make changes to your current way of life if it doesn’t make you feel very alive.
“You only get one chance so make sure you do something every day that makes you feel truly alive and happy."
The research found just one in five consider their lives to be fun, with a third saying they often feel like life is more work than play.
One in twenty even went as far as to say they feel like they are simply living to work.
In fact, Brits feel the average day is 45 per cent work and just 29 per cent fun.
And more than three quarters even said they often have days where it feels like all they do is eat, sleep and work.
A lack of money is most likely to stop people from having more fun in their life, followed by a lack of time and not making it a priority or not having anyone to do things with.
The study also found that going on holiday or travelling to another country is the most fun thing in life, followed by spending time among nature and a family day trip.
A night out with friends, watching your favourite TV show or live music and having a cold beer in a sunny pub garden also feature.
A road trip driving long country roads, going to the cinema and watching children play complete the top ten.
Other fun things in life include boating or being by the ocean, sunbathing, bingeing on a box set and skiing.
Researchers also found one in four admit they can’t remember the last time they felt alive, with another one in ten saying it was at least a year ago.
Three in ten believe skiing is a great way to feel alive, along with exercise, watching a sunrise or sunset and live music.
Inge Solheim, from Helly Hansen added: “It’s very sad to see that so many people are unfulfilled with their daily lives, and aren’t living in a way that brings them enjoyment.
“I worked as a banker in the city for over nine years, but in spite of my successful career, my childhood passion for the outdoors never left me.
“There was always something missing from my life, and I had a constant feeling that I should be experiencing nature, testing myself, feeling more alive.
"So I took a leap of faith and left that life behind to become an adventurer, and I can honestly say that I’ve never looked back.
“I know my chosen path may seem very extreme, but the point is I no longer feel that I’m working, I am having fun just by living my lifestyle and it makes me happy.
"Our sense of limitation is usually psychological, and I urge people to make small changes to their daily lives to bring them more fun.”
Top 20 most fun things in life
1. Going on holiday/travelling
2. Spending time in nature
3. A family day trip
4. A night out with friends
5. Watching your favourite TV programme
6. Going to a live music event
7. Having a cold beer in a beer garden on a sunny day
8. Driving along country roads on a sunny day
9. Going to the cinema
10. Watching children play
11. Spending time in the mountains
12. Boating and/or being on the ocean
13. Playing in the garden with the children
14. Sunbathing
15. Watching a game of football
16. Binge watching a box set
17. Online shopping
18. Riding a roller coaster
19. Trying out a new sport/activity for the first time
20. Skiing
ENDS
