By Zoya Gervis // SWNS
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO + INFOGRAPHIC
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 American makes six excuses daily, and among those excuses are reasons people are not practicing self-care, from exercise and healthy eating to skincare and sun protection.
Thirty-five percent make daily excuses to avoid exercising while a third will make excuses daily to avoid eating healthy.
The study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with CeraVe aimed to discover the various excuses people make in a year and looked specifically at skincare and sunscreen as we approach summer.
The poll determined while 47% say they follow a daily skincare routine, only 29% say they use sunscreen daily.
A whopping 83% say they’ll make an excuse to validate why they’re skipping sunscreen application. When asked why, over a quarter (26%) say if they don’t go out in the sun, they don’t need to apply sunscreen, and a quarter (25%) will say that 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,” says 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.
Besides excuses for following proper sun protection measures, at least once a week, 41% of respondents say they’ll eat healthier tomorrow, while a further two in five have an excuse to do that errand next week.
Weekly, nearly a third (32%) of those studied make the excuse of not having enough time to work out while 31% say they simply don’t have the energy to cook a healthy meal.
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.
Nearly half (49%) of respondents say that being too tired is one of their most frequently used excuses.
Forty-eight percent reveal their go-to excuse is not having enough time while a further 31% use ‘it’s too inconvenient’ as a regular excuse.
TOP 5 MOST COMMON EXCUSES
- I’m too tired 49%
- I don’t have enough money 48%
- I don’t have enough time 48%
- It’s too inconvenient 31%
- I’m too forgetful 28%
WEEKLY SITUATIONS LEADING TO EXCUSES
- Running errands 33%
- Exercise 33%
- Healthy eating 33%
- Social events 29%
- 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%
