UK adults take up to three hours of ‘me-time’ per day, poll claims

Self-aware adults now ensure they get focused “me-time” of up to three hours every single day, according to a poll.

A poll of 2,000 people found six in 10 were increasingly aware of the need to get time to themselves.

And one-third had developed new self-care habits, including exercising more, eating better and taking more care of their skin.

But 50 per cent said they were still not getting as much “me-time” as they would like.

The study was commissioned by Perrigo, which manufactures Niquitin, Nytol, XLS-Medical and Dermalex, to mark International Self-Care Day on Friday (24 July).

It also found self-care was a priority for seven in 10 adults in their daily routines.

Laure de Brauer, spokesperson for Perrigo UK & Ireland, said: “The past few months have been a challenging time for all of us in so many ways.

“But the promising outcome from the experience is that we have learned to better listen to our bodies and minds to take better care of ourselves.

“The UK has seen the positive impact of having to switch from ‘healthcare’ to ‘self-care’ over the past few months which has, in turn, highlighted the important role of self-care and community pharmacy on our vital health system.

“It’s encouraging to see that, as a nation, we have recognised the benefits of forming healthier habits and that we’re keen to keep this going.”

But the research also found that, despite the surge in self-care among those polled, there were still a number of barriers preventing them from prioritising “me-time” as much as they would like.

These included having too many commitments (43 per cent), being a parent (39 per cent) and having trouble switching off (37 per cent).

Long working hours (35 per cent) were also a factor, as was feeling guilty about having “me time” (30 per cent).

The poll also revealed some of the specific approaches people had taken to improve their wellbeing.

Prior to the lockdown, 21 per cent of adults smoked, but since the restrictions were brought in, 19 per cent of those people had managed to kick the habit, while one-third had cut down.

And one-quarter of adults who exercised prior to the restrictions had been exercising even more in recent months and 12 per cent of those who did not exercise before lockdown now do.

But there were parts of life which had proved to be especially challenging during the past few months.

Six in 10 of those polled via OnePoll said they were struggling to sleep and one-fifth had difficulty ”most nights” amid worries about the pandemic (31 per cent) and the health of loved ones (29 per cent). More than half of those with skin conditions such as dry or sensitive skin, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, and acne had endured more flare-ups than usual recently.

Like those who had been having trouble sleeping, 47 per cent thought anxieties relating to the pandemic are to blame.

Ms de Brauer added: “Our study shows that 66 per cent of adults in the UK now seem to be thriving when it comes to self-care and believe they are ‘good’ at understanding what their body and mind needs in order to stay healthy.

“The experience of lockdown showed us how resilient and adaptable we can be and that, with the right support, we can look after ourselves better than we thought.”

SWNS