On the first day of Christmas “my true love sent to me, a partridge in a pear tree”. But what are you likely to get on the worst day of Christmas…Frazzled Friday?
According to a new study from movie and TV streaming service blinkbox, it won’t be a gift of five gold rings. It will more than likely be a blazing row or some much needed ‘me time’ as the nation does its best to recover from an almighty Xmas hangover thanks to an overdose of family, spiralling weight gain and a depleted bank balance.
The study of 2000 British adults reveals that whilst the Xmas season should be one of goodwill to all, our patience and jollity are severely tested come Friday the 28th when over half us (53%) admit that our nerves start to fray. 41% want to plant themselves on the sofa, close the curtains, take the phone of the hook, and escape tensions by watching a movie.
Key amongst the findings was the fact that an astonishing 72% will have spent three or more days with our family and close friends over immediate festive period* – one day too long according to 53% of respondents who admit that come Friday the 28th, they are well and truly sick of the sight of them.
The research reveals that too much time with the family really gets us steaming like a plum pudding straight out of the microwave. Indeed, hours of compromising over what to watch on telly and too much time with family will leave a staggering 34% of us fantasising about living abroad for the Xmas period.
Tensions also tend to come to a head on ‘Frazzled Friday’ as this is the day that over a quarter of us first take stock of our bank balances post the Christmas celebrations (27%) with over a third of us (38%) expecting to face up to being overdrawn.
An air of grumpiness fuelled by one too many mince pies will afflict many. The survey found that the average adult Brit will have piled on 4lbs come the 28th, whilst a third (34%) of men over the age of 40 will not be able to fasten their favourite jeans.
Top irritant over the festive period is likely to be the mother-in-law (24%) followed by our own children (11%). Grandpa is likely to be the favourite family member, annoying just 1% of those surveyed.
Frazzled Friday Facts:
- 72% of us will spend at least three days in close proximity to family over the immediate Xmas period
- Half agree (53%) that family ‘start to smell’ after three days – the optimum time to spend in close proximity being two days (82%)
- Over a third of Brits (34%) will be overdrawn
- Average weight gain over the Christmas period will be pegged at 4lbs
- On average we will have battled through or witnessed five arguments over the Xmas period, with 64% of households witnessing tears
- On average, we will have drunk the equivalent of 65 units of alcohol per adult
- 25% are looking at a long cold winter as financial constraints will mean they won’t have another holiday until after Easter
- And 75% are irritated by New Year resolutions
Matters aren’t helped by the cumulative Christmas hangover; numerous Xmas parties and socials will not only leave us out of pocket but also bloated having consumed (on average) the equivalent of 65 units of alcohol from Friday 21st December to December 28th – that’s just under a bottle of wine a day per person!
And, with New Year just three days away, friends are likely to be asking what your resolution is going to be which irritates the hell out of a whopping 75% of us.
It’s not all bad news, however. The research suggests a number of ways the nation tries to cope with the FRAZZLED FRIDAY blues:
- 41% plant themselves on the sofa, close the curtains, take the phone of the hook, and escape tensions by watching a movie
- 13% watch TV alone after sending the rest of their family off for the day “to visit Auntie Sylvia”
- 5% eat raw vegetables, drink carrot juice and go for a long run
Ben Ayers, spokesman for blinkbox comments: “Too much booze, food and family combined can leave us feeling tetchy at a time when we are supposed to be full of the joys of Xmas. The perfect tonic for a Frazzled Friday is ome quiet time alone in front of a good movie when you can switch off from family with a bit of selfish escapism.”
Regional and gender differentials
Londoners predict they will have six arguments over Christmas compared with the peace loving inhabitants of the South West who foresee two arguments each over the festive season. People from the North East are set to consume 69 alcohol units compared with 45 in Northern Ireland. Residents in the East Midlands are likely to be feeling blue as their bank balances hit red (31% compared with only 15% in East Anglia)
Notes to editors
Over 2000 British adults were surveyed by One Poll for the blinkbox study
About blinkbox
blinkbox has the latest TV and blockbuster movies and TV to watch instantly without subscription. The service is available on a growing number of games consoles, tablets, Smart TVs and PCs/Macs, thousands of quality film and TV titles. blinkbox is proud to be part of Tesco and was voted ‘Best online movie service’ by viewers of Channel 5’s The Gadget Show.
*Immediate Festive Period includes 22nd, 23rd December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
