Average Briton spends five years of their life bored, survey claims

Research shows more than half of respondents worry life is passing them by

British Heart Foundation commissioned the survey to encourage more people to take up volunteering in their free time (Rex Features)

The average Briton spends five years of their life feeling bored, according to new research.

A survey of 2,000 adults found we succumb to boredom twice a day on average - amounting to a daily total of two hours.

Doing the washing-up, de-mossing the patio and buying socks were identified as some of the dullest things in the UK.

Other mundane aspects of day-to-day life included taking the bins out, scrolling through the photos of food uploaded to social media and cricket.

Commissioned by the British Heart Foundation to encourage the public to make the most of their free-time by volunteering, the study found almost half of those polled think life is boring.

Despite having an average of around four hours of free time a day, 34 per cent admitted they tend to ‘waste it’ by doing absolutely nothing or filling the time with tedious tasks.

Formula One, company meetings and building flat pack furniture also left Britons pining for more excitement.

Linda Fenn, head of volunteering at the British Heart Foundation, said: “No one likes to be bored, so we’re encouraging the public to put those ‘empty’ hours to good use and join our volunteering team.

“Volunteering is not only a great way to increase wellbeing and self-esteem but also meet new people and learn new skills.

“Each year the British Heart Foundation funds over £100 million of research into all heart and circulatory diseases but we couldn’t do it without the amazing support of our volunteer network.

“Every penny generated by volunteers helps to fund our vital research into heart disease, strokes, vascular dementia and diabetes.”

On a typical day, peak tedium occurred at 1:10pm – with this time officially the dullest point of the day, according to those polled.

Although 23 per cent said they were most likely to be bored at work, a third reckoned boredom usually hits when they are at home.

A quarter also believed life is duller now than it was when they were a child - with 53 per cent fearing that life is passing them by.

Carried out through OnePoll.com, the survey found six in 10 wish they used their free time in a more fulfilling way.

47 per cent admitted they often feel they have wasted their weekends - having done nothing noteworthy.

It also emerged around half think volunteering is or would be a rewarding use of their free time.

Three quarters of the population have volunteered at some point – and of those who have, 75 per cent agreed it was time well spent.

Linda Fenn added: “Whatever time you can give as a volunteer to the BHF, will make a difference.

“Whether it is an hour or two a week in a shop, sometime every month as part of a fundraising group, or cheering or stewarding at a local event once a year.

“Even a quick post on social media during a lunchbreak can help spread the word!”

SWNS