Brits Spend 10 Months Moaning About The Weather

Frequently find yourself tapping the weather app on your iPhone? Well you’re not alone. The average Brit spends almost five full days each year (that’s 10 months of our lives!) complaining about the British weather, according to a new report.

Known for our love of idle meteorological chit-chat, we apparently average two hours each week complaining about the lack of sunshine. That’s the equivalent of 4 days and seven hours every year, or ten months over our entire life, according to the report commissioned by Tetley Tea in collaboration with leading weather and psychological experts.

According to the figures, weather-preoccupied Brits check the forecast EIGHT times a week, discussing the outcome with partners and work colleagues at least five times a week.

And it’s not just feeding our conversation, as there’s a financial cost too: the research reveals that the poor summer weather has cost us an average of £149 each over the summer months, due to cancelled events, wasted food and clothes we never get to wear. On average, we have had to cancel five planned summer activities, including three failed walks in the country, one abandoned BBQ and two postponed day trips.

The Tetley State of Summer report also confirms what many have suspected: The UK’s summer this year has been a wash out, with average rainfall and weather systems during this summer more typical of winter months, in the words of leading meteorologist, Prof. Liz Bentley.

It’s no surprise then that 44% of us think this summer has been disappointing – with many claiming to have been stuck inside for days over the summer months because of poor conditions.

In order to restore some summer feel good factor, psychologist Honey Langcaster-James has worked to explore the impact a lack of sunshine has on the mood of the nation, and to find some suggestions for combating the resulting frustration. She told Belle About Town: “A sunny day can boost the mood and lift the spirit. But after a summer deemed by 44% of Brits as a ‘wash-out’, it’s more important than ever to find those little things that evoke that summertime feeling looking ahead. That’s why going in to the Autumn we’re calling on the nation to bring the sunshine itself.

“Getting regular exercise has been proven to help boost mood and reduce symptoms associated with depression, so it’s more important than ever during the winter months to make time for exercise. On a smaller scale, little touches like using a bright light box, designed to mimic dawn with bright sunlight early in the morning to wake you up naturally, as well as summertime scented bath products and toiletries can help evoke that summer feeling.

“Maintain your Vitamin D levels by eating a diet rich with foods that contain Vitamin D, and from food supplements or enhanced drinks like Tetley’s new Sunshine Super Tea.”

According to the poll, the rain makes 14% of us feel frustrated, while 10 percent of us feel lethargic when the heavens open.

However, even when the sun does make a rare appearance, 57% of us still find something to moan about – with almost half of the nation (49%) having complained about the British weather being too humid, while 46% have moaned about it being too hot.

Almost four in ten have taken issue with it being too windy, while 34% say the sunshine makes them sweat too much, and 61% insist that summers are not as good as when they were young.

Ah the good old days eh, when the sun shined all summer and every Christmas was a white Christmas. If only…