If you’re having a bad day, brace yourself because the average American experiences sixty bad days per year, a new study has revealed.
The survey of 2,000 working Americans examined how we deal with stress, what exactly a ‘bad day’ consists of and what effect it has on our subsequent health.
Work was inevitably a big contributor, as the results found the average respondent blames work for four out of the five bad days they experience in a typical month.
Oh dear: The average American experiences sixty bad days every year – which breaks down to a whopping five bad days per month (file photo used)
The research, commissioned by fitness app Freeletics, looked at the specific reasons given for people recently experiencing a bad day and found not getting enough sleep was the biggest contributing factor to a bad day at 67 per cent.
Feeling sick is also a big factor to a bad day, as well as financial worry and work-related stress.
The mood of our days rests in a gentle balance, as one in four Americans said that not having any hot water in their shower has completely ruined their day on at least one occasion.
While 34 per cent have had their days ruined by having some plans fall through, 25 per cent said a bad hair day has led to a full-fledged bad day.
Sporting heartbreak can even ruin a day, but most Americans are able to quickly shrug off their favorite sports team losing a game with only eight per cent listing it as a contributing factor to a bad day.
Stress and bad days are bad for us, both mentally and physically. 50 per cent of Americans reported that they are more likely to indulge in admittedly unhealthy foods after a bad day, and 34 per cent are more likely to have an alcoholic drink.
According to the results, a little ‘workout therapy’ will go a longer way in helping with bad days and it’s the most effective way to deal with stress.
Survey respondents were split based on their frequency of exercising, with results showing how beneficial working out actually is both physically and mentally.
The more frequently somebody works out correlated with how likely they were to report that exercise helps them deal with stress.
‘These findings make a lot of sense, as working out after a tough day can be a very effective stress reliever, especially because it boosts those all-important endorphin levels,’ says John-Francis Kennedy, Training Specialist at Freeletics.
Of the people who worked out two to three times per week, 46 per cent claim it’s a good stress reliever. As for the people who worked out four to five times per week, that percentage jumped to an impressive 64 per cent.
The benefits of working out are clear in the results. Of those who exercise, an incredible 95 per cent said working out after a bad day makes them feel better.
Over half, 51 per cent, said working out makes them feel more energetic at work. While 44 per cent feel more motivated, and 43 per cent feel more clear-headed.
Relief: Most Americans agreed that working out makes them feel better after having a long stressful day
This is no real surprise, considering the science states, ‘Any form of exercise can help to relieve stress and frustration.
‘It leads to an increased level of some hormones, dopamine, serotonin and endorphins in the body,’ Kennedy explains.
‘These, in turn, contribute to the feeling of happiness and a reduced level of the stress hormone cortisol.’
The reason why stress is such a bad thing is because, ‘Chronic stress hinders the body’s ability to regulate cortisol levels, which, in turn, influences metabolism, immunity, sleep rhythm and blood pressure,’ Kennedy explains.
‘This will often lead to you feeling tired and run-down, plus you will also be more likely to gain weight and crave fatty and sugary foods.’
According to the results, Americans seem to find exercising fairly inconvenient. Nearly four in five Americans do not have a gym membership, citing price as the biggest reason, as well as the simple fact that they just don’t like going.
Surprisingly, many overestimated how long they should spend working out for their session to be effective.
27 per cent cited a lengthy 46 to 60 minutes as the ideal workout duration, and 24 per cent believe they need to exercise for 31 to 45 minutes. Often, according to the experts at Freeletics, if done the right way, just 15 to 20 minutes can be enough.
‘It is clear that the right physical activity contributes to a healthy body and a healthy mind,’ Freeletics CEO Daniel Sobhani explains.
‘So it’s vital that exercise be appealing and accessible to everyone. This was the exact reason our company was founded.
‘Thanks to technology and fitness apps such as Freeletics, it is now possible to exercise effectively without a gym and at a much lower cost, even for free. People have the option to exercise anywhere and anytime, free from the usual hurdles they face.
‘We know that a 20-minute bodyweight workout done at home can be just as effective as spending an evening in the gym, so there really are no more excuses not to work on a healthy body and a healthy mind.’