All I want for Christmas is five minutes alone

Brits take refuge in the bathroom to escape the demands of 21st Century living
By: Mira Showers
 
LONDON - Nov. 20, 2013 - PRLog -- ·         82% of Brits, particularly men, feel it is important to lock the bathroom door

·         18 – 24 year olds in particular use it as their place of solace

·         A quarter of women spend too long on the loo according to their family members

·         94% of people would like at least an additional 5 minutes of alone time a day

Traditionally bathrooms have been used as a functional place to facilitate daily routine but new research by Mira Showers would suggest that this attitude has shifted. The majority of Brits (65%) now see their bathroom as a sanctuary: in contrast to other rooms in the home, the bathroom for most people (53%) is the one place they feel confident that they won’t be disturbed. The lack of technological disturbances meant that over a quarter (28%) of Brits felt that it was the only room where you can switch off and enjoy total peace and quiet.

Having one room in the house where you can shut off and counteract the stresses of everyday life is most important for 18-24 year olds, with 78% admitting that they use the bathroom to unwind. This is in direct contrast with the elder generations, with over half of over 65s (56%) using it for practical reasons only.

As a nation (82%) the bathroom is the one place where we want to lock the door and shut the world out for some much needed privacy – men are keener to ensure that there’s a lock on the door than women. Furthermore, a higher percentage of men (33%) than women (23%) found the bathroom to be the room in which they can best ‘escape’.

Practitioner Psychologist Dr Jane McCartney explains: ‘As much as we enjoy interaction with others, it is so important to have a place and space for ourselves.  This is space and time to reflect, relax and recuperate.  As a rule others respect the bathroom space, they may not know what you’re doing in there, so chances are you should be left alone, even if it’s for a short time.

With the bathroom being increasingly recognised for its psychological benefits, it is understandable that 34% of women and 19% of men spend over half an hour a day in the bathroom. Women are self-confessed ‘bathroom hoggers’, with over half (53%) admitting that they spend the most time in the bathroom. More than a third (37%) of male respondents pointed the figure at their female family members accusing them of hogging the bathroom. However, it was revealed that a fifth of people (19%) spend too long on the loo and of these, perhaps most surprisingly of all, women were the main culprits (24%).

When asked about arguments surrounding the bathroom, messiness came out on top, with 30% seeing this as the main cause of friction. This was closely followed by a quarter of people fed up with family members hogging it. Despite this, it seems the bathroom is not a major source of family conflict: over a quarter (26%) of respondents’ claim that they have never argued over the subject, reinforcing the bathroom’s position as a place of tranquillity.

Dr Jane McCartney explains ‘From a psychological point of view knowing that you can have time and space for yourself is really important.  If you have a stressful day it’s going to be made more tolerable and manageable if you know you can have a special place to yourself to unwind at the end of it.  It’s interesting that so many people have said they have never argued over the bathroom, perhaps this is because most of us can respect the importance of this special space, we empathise with it, so respect the sanctity of it.  The research seems to suggest that some bathroom users just need a bit of encouragement to make sure the next user starts off their bathroom experience on the right foot, e.g. not having to spend their own precious time clearing up after the previous occupant!

It is important that we make sure we get at least 5 minutes of undisturbed relaxation a day in order to achieve psychological equilibrium.  Finding even this small amount of alone time to switch off can sometimes seem impossible, but the benefits are well worth the 5 minutes of time invested’. This was supported by 94% of respondents who believe that they would benefit from this daily interlude.

Emma Foster, Marketing Manager at Mira Showers said ‘These research findings cement the fact that the bathroom has been redefined in modern family households. With today’s fast paced and stressful lifestyle, its role is more important than ever in allowing people to escape. So for the savvy, ensuring your bathroom is a haven and has a lock on the door is the key to being happier and feeling less stressed. For years we’ve been helping Brits make the most of their bathrooms - creating a space you want to spend time in is half the battle but certainly worth its weight in gold. For me the bigger challenge is making sure you find five minutes a day to shut yourself away and…relax!’

-       ENDS -

For more information call 020 8741 5900 and ask to speak to Jess, Max or Laura or email mira@lucre.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About the research:


Research was carried out in November 2013 by the UK National Research panel YourSayPays. Results were collected from a sample of 1,143 people who have at least one child per household, across the UK.

About Mira Showers:

Founded in 1921, Mira is the UK’s leading manufacturer of mixer, electric, power and digital showers.  The entire range of showers and accessories, such as taps and shower trays, use stylish design and innovative technology to deliver a high performance showering experience in every price range. Kohler Co. Mira shower products are available in retailers nationwide, including B&Q, and can be found in one in five homes in the UK.

www.mirashowers.co.uk

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