Brits winds down at 8.44pm
8.44pm is the time when most people finally feel able to switch off and enjoy a quality moment after a hectic day of work, chores and childcare, it was revealed last week by Three Barrels brandy.
The average couple settles down together in an evening at 8:05pm – but it takes a further 39 minutes to forget about the stresses and strains of the day.
Researchers found that husband and wife spend less than 75 minutes of quality time together daily as they struggle to balance work and home life. And 34 per cent claim they often feel they spend more one-on-one time with their work colleagues than each other.
Even when couples do wind down for the perfect 8:44pm moment together, they are more likely to chill out in front of the TV with a tipple than exert themselves by doing anything more adventurous.
Sarah Pace, Brand Manager for the Three Barrels ‘Perfect Moment’ campaign, which carried out the study of 3,000 people, said: “This survey shows that even the happiest couples rarely enjoy quality time together by the sheer nature of their day to day life.
“It is clear that couples in particular are in need of more everyday perfect moments, even if it is just a quiet evening, relaxing in front of the TV. The Three Barrels ‘Perfect Moments’ campaign aims to offer couples the chance to share valued time together as an everyday occasion.”
The research shows that while most people return home from work by 6:00pm in the evening, they then get caught up with housework, checking emails and eating dinner and are unable to fully relax. Four in 10 people polled are even going to bed later than they’d like because they take so long to unwind in an evening.
But when couples do sit down together in front of the TV, although it might not be the most exciting way to spend the evening there is something to be said for comfortable silences, a shared drink and a common interest. The study shows that despite sitting down together at the same time in the evening, there is a stark contrast between the ways men and women wind down after work.
Other interesting findings include:
- 6/10 women will prepare the evening meal, compared to just a third of men, and 4/10 women will then go on to do a load of washing and do the dishes
- Women also take more responsibility for house admin – such as arranging school dinner money, filling out forms and checking through the mail
- 17 per cent of dads compared to 13 per cent of mums are more likely to help the children with their homework
- 7/10 women do more around the house than men, and 66 per cent of men admit they might relax earlier than their partner
- Other ways couples like to relax include listening to music (19 per cent), surfing the internet (28 per cent) and going onto Facebook (21 per cent)
- 1/3 of folk describe their perfect moment as sinking into a hot bath, while 35 per cent say you can’t beat putting your feet up in front of a good film
For additional survey findings and details on how you can enjoy more quality moments each day, visit the ‘Perfect Moments’ area on the Three Barrels website three-barrels.com, where you can win fantastic prizes and easy ways of making everyday special.