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 percent).
That was followed by the commonly given excuse of “I don’t have enough money” (48 percent), with “I don’t have enough time” (48 percent) 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 percent make an excuse for binge-watching TV.
And over a third (34 percent) 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 percent.
Beyond that, 29 percent admit to employing excuses to get out of social events each week and 28 percent 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 skincare and sunscreen.
The poll determined while 47 percent say they follow a daily skincare routine, only 29 percent say they use sunscreen daily.
A whopping 83 percent said they’ll make an excuse to validate skipping their sunscreen application.
When asked why, 26 percent said if they don’t go out in the sun, they don’t need to apply sunscreen — while a quarter (25 percent) 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 percent of those studied don’t think they need to wear sunscreen every day.
However, a quarter (25 percent) understand its importance and would like to make sunscreen a daily habit.
Top five most common excuses
- I’m too tired: 49 percent
- I don’t have enough money: 48 percent
- I don’t have enough time: 48 percent
- It’s too inconvenient: 31 percent
- I’m too forgetful: 28 percent
Weekly situations leading to excuses
- Running errands: 33 percent
- Exercise: 33 percent
- Healthy eating: 33 percent
- Social events: 29 percent
- Wearing sunscreen: 28 percent
Formula for yearly excuses: 6 excuses per day x 365 days in a year = 2,190 excuses per year