Please Excuse US: Average American makes more than 2,000 excuses a year
The average American will make 2,190 excuses to validate their decisions per year, according to new research.
A poll of 2,000 Americans found that the average respondent makes six excuses daily, adding up to over 2K excuses each year.
And results revealed the ever-popular “I’m too tired” topped the list of common excuses (49%).
That was followed by the commonly given excuse of “I don’t have enough money” (48%), with “I don’t have enough time” (48%) rounding out the top three.
The study, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with CeraVe, looked not only at the common excuses Americans give, but it also delved into what those excuses are used for.
In a single month, two in five make an excuse for buying something they didn’t need while a further 36% make an excuse for binge-watching TV.
And over a third (34%) make excuses for not cleaning once a month.
On a weekly basis, excuses were most commonly given by respondents in order to avoid exercising, eating healthy and running errands — all tied at 33%.
Beyond that, 29% admit to employing excuses to get out of social events each week and 28% make weekly excuses for not wearing sunscreen.
With summer and warm weather quickly approaching, the survey delved further into the various excuses people give regarding skin care and sunscreen.
The poll determined while 47% say they follow a daily skin care routine, only 29% say they use sunscreen daily.
A whopping 83% said they’ll make an excuse to validate skipping their sunscreen application.
When asked why, 26% said if they don’t go out in the sun, they don’t need to apply sunscreen — while a quarter (25%) said if they’re only running errands, they don’t need any sun protection.
“Applying sunscreen is one of the most important steps in a healthy lifestyle routine, regardless of what your day looks like,” said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian.
“Whether you plan to spend a long summer day in your backyard or are working near a window, your skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, so it’s crucial to incorporate this step into your daily regimen.”
Turns out, 64% of those studied don’t think they need to wear sunscreen every day.
However, a quarter (25%) understand its importance and would like to make sunscreen a daily habit.
TOP 5 MOST COMMON EXCUSES
1. I’m too tired 49%
2. I don’t have enough money 48%
3. I don’t have enough time 48%
4. It’s too inconvenient 31%
5. I’m too forgetful 28%
WEEKLY SITUATIONS LEADING TO EXCUSES
1. Running errands 33%
2. Exercise 33%
3. Healthy eating 33%
4. Social events 29%
5. Wearing sunscreen 28%
TOP 5 SITUATIONS PEOPLE ARE LEAST LIKELY TO APPLY SUNSCREEN
- When on vacation 34%
- When working indoors near a window 29%
- When driving 28%
- When going to the beach or pool 27%
- When it is cloudy outside 23%
*Formula for yearly excuses: 6 excuses per day x 365 days in a year = 2,190 excuses per year
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