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The findings highlight that Brits don t have enough time to do the things they enjoydoing with 87 per cent wishing they had more free time for a hobby or pastime. Only five per cent said they have ample free time to themselves. Moreinterestingly, eight per cent of respondents were unsure whether or not they hadenough free time on their hands - this indicates that they either have no interestin pursuing a pastime or are simply too busy with work to notice!
The old adage that Brits work long hours is alive and kicking 45 per cent ofrespondents claim to work in excess of the traditional average 40 hour week and awhopping 38 per cent stated they actually work more than 60 hours each week.
Just over half of all respondents (52 per cent) stated that work severely gets inthe way of their social life at least once a week. With an additional quarter ofthose surveyed (26 per cent) stating their career impacts on social lives at leasttwice a week. Cumulatively these two statistics convey that a little over threequarters of Brits feel that work has a noticeable - and ultimately negative - impacton the enjoyment of their free time.
Fiona Gibbins, Marketing Director of realbuzz.com said: Our research has thrown upsome interesting findings. It s staggering to see how strongly the British publicfeels about work impacting on their free time and ultimately getting in the way ofthem enjoying a pastime. Also, about the people we find the most motivational -perhaps our work colleagues hit the spot because we spend so much time in theircompany?!
When asked how much money people spend on a hobby or pastime the results showed that38 per cent (slightly more than one in three of us) do not actually spend money ontheir hobby or pastime which indicates a resurgence of free pastimes such as;walking, cycling, reading and jogging.
The survey also considered our motivations for getting physical and it identifiedthat we find our workmates more motivational than our family members in terms ofgetting us to do something physically challenging. This question coveredactivities such as; going to the gym or participating in a sport. One in fourrespondents claimed that they found new acquaintances more motivational than eitherfamily or friends. This finding implies that there are social barriers to overcomewhen beginning a fitness regime and these obstacles aren t that apparent when wepartake in such activities with strangers.
realbuzz.com encourages people to connect with like-minded users both on and offline- based on common interests and pastimes. The site s community features are drivenby the sharing of real life experiences and passions. Through interactive functionssuch as; video and photo uploads, community boards and social networking users canbuild a network of friends with similar interests. Ultimately realbuzz.com providesan avenue to escapism .
Visit www.realbuzz.com to see the site.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
* Sample: 1,000 face-to-face interviews were conducted during w/c 05 November 2007.
* Selection: respondents picked to be representative of the UK population coredemographics.
* Source: the research was commissioned using an independent street research team.
For further information, imagery or to request an interview please contact Custard PR:
Stu Campbell
Managing Director
stu@custardpr.com
+ 44(0)7795 570 946
+44(0)20 7494 6586
