We can't decide... do we really dither for two years of our lives? Dilemmas over what to wear, eat and watch on TV take up more than seven hours of a typical week

  • People spend the equivalent of two years and nine months of their lives dithering
  • Decisions include what to order at a restaurant and what to watch on Netflix
  • Six in ten UK adults admit they struggle to make decisions, taking more than seven hours each week

By JOSH WHITE, SENIOR REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

We spend the equivalent of two years and nine months of their lives dithering, according to research.

Daily dilemmas include what to have for dinner - which takes almost seven minutes to decide - and what to wear, which consumes another four.

What to watch on Netflix – at four minutes, 19 seconds - whether to be sociable - at seven minutes, 25 seconds - and what to order in a restaurant – at six minutes, 19 seconds - also prove tricky.

We spend the equivalent of two years and nine months of their lives dithering, according to research

We spend the equivalent of two years and nine months of their lives dithering, according to research

What to order in a restaurant takes adults roughly at six minutes, 19 seconds to decide

What to order in a restaurant takes adults roughly at six minutes, 19 seconds to decide

Overall, six in ten UK adults admit they struggle to make decisions – spending an astonishing seven hours and 36 minutes making up their minds during a typical week.

The research of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by ISA and financial services provider, Scottish Friendly.

It also emerged on average, those polled make 14 'small' decisions everyday - including what to have for lunch and what to watch on television.

'Too much choice' is the top reason we find it hard to make up our minds - followed by wanting to be sure the right decision is made.

Some 60 per cent of adults said they have a tendency to make the wrong decision - although four in ten said indecisiveness has worked to their benefit at times.

While around half admit they often try to avoid making decisions altogether - with 48 per cent hoping someone else will make the decision on their behalf so they don't have to.

Among those polled, the peak age for indecisiveness is 35 years old with almost a quarter of respondents admitting to becoming less decisive as they have gotten older.

Overall, six in ten UK adults admit they struggle to make decisions – spending an astonishing seven hours and 36 minutes making up their minds during a typical week

Overall, six in ten UK adults admit they struggle to make decisions – spending an astonishing seven hours and 36 minutes making up their minds during a typical week

However, Britons find it easier to make decisions about personal finance - just one in ten struggle to decide which utility provider to use.

And only 5 per cent agonise over which bank account to go for, while 85 percent have no qualms dipping into their savings if they need to.

Calum Bennie of Scottish Friendly said: 'It is remarkable that many Brits find making important financial decisions a relative breeze.

'Considering the current economic uncertainty following the election and Brexit, it is more important than ever that people do take the time to consider all the options available to them when it comes to money.

'It is crucial Brits make informed and considered financial choices or they risk running into problems in the future.' 

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