Most Americans admit to procrastinating — and that’s what they do to waste time: polling

The clocks are officially set back at 12:06 a.m. on Monday, according to a new study.

From watching TV and movies (50%), to lying in bed (39%) or taking a nap (29%), a survey of 2,000 American adults found that procrastination plagues the nation, as 71% of Americans are guilty of procrastination. .

However, 76% admit they feel guilty when they do.

Another place Americans will turn is to their phone, scrolling through social media to avoid their to-do list (42%).

The average American spends almost two and a half hours on social media every day, despite trying to limit their consumption to just under two hours.

However, 10% spend between five and eight hours scrolling and 18% don’t even try to limit their time on social media.

Taking this a step further, half of Americans agree that their phone is like a fifth accessory and are only inspired to put it on for family dinners (50%), special events, such as birthdays or weddings (35%) or date (22). %).

In addition to social movement, respondents are also procrastinating by playing video games (22%) and calling family and friends (19%).

This may be why 28% admit that their phone is usually the main reason why they are not getting things done.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Dave’s Killer Bread, the results also revealed that respondents would prefer to grab a bite to eat (33%), go for a walk (30%) or drive (20%) or simply not to do anything. (31%) than tackle their to-do list.

Many may be prompted to start crossing items if they’re expecting friends or family (30%) or have the perfect meal (17%) and playlist (17%).

Another 34% are likely to “gamify” their agenda and reward themselves with a snack (30%) or social media scroll (25%) after completing a task.

Others are likely to enlist the rest of the family (14%) and host a competition with each other (19%) or pretend they’re on a game show (14%).

“Tackling your to-do list isn’t always the most exciting part of the day, and with so many distractions, it’s easy to find ourselves procrastinating,” said Jillian Cohn, Director of Brand Management for Dave’s Killer Bread. “The good news is that something as simple as an energy-boosting snack or your favorite playlist can improve your mood and motivation. Incorporating these small pleasures into your day can transform your approach to getting things done.”

When asked about the smallest or strangest things that have procrastinated, Americans described scenarios such as “washing hair,” “using the bathroom,” “cutting toenails,” “taking out the trash.” even “making a phone call”.

Regardless, 70% feel they are able to cross more things off their to-do list when they are alone than with the help of others.

And another 55% even admit that they are more likely to procrastinate if they are hungry.

But when all is said and done, almost one in five (19%) find that the tasks they had put off always take less time than expected.

“Even the smallest tasks can feel overwhelming at times, and that’s perfectly normal. It’s important to be kind to yourself and celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small,” added Cohn. “Whether you’re going about your daily tasks or taking a much-needed break, a tasty and nutritious snack can be just what you need to recharge and keep you on track.”

WHAT WOULD AMERICANS DO WITH THEIR TO-DO LIST?

• Take a nap – 39%
• Visiting with family and friends – 33%
• Grab a bite to eat – 33%
• So nothing – 31%
• Go for a walk – 30%
• Go shopping – 28%
• Go for a car – 20%
• Exercises – 16%
• Catch the job pitch – 10%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans of the general population; the survey was commissioned by Dave’s Killer Bread and administered and conducted online by Talker Research from July 19 to July 22, 2024.