SURVEY SAYS: Most-Anticipated Daily Activity

Last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “Which activity in your daily routine do you look forward to the most?”

Less than 2% selected ‘eating supper;’ 2.9% said the commute from work; 4.3% chose ‘time in the morning to read, watch the news and/or drink coffee;’ and 5.8% said play with and/or walking my pet. Slightly more than 7% selected ‘spending time with my children;’ 8.7% said going to sleep; and 11.6% chose ‘reading.’

‘Exercising’ was selected by 15.9% of responding readers, and ‘watching TV’ was selected by 13%.

More readers chose ‘other’ than anything on the list (29%). Most of those responses were a combination of or variation of things on the list.

“Other’ responses included:

• Reading bedtime stories to my sweet granddaughter. Time with her is the highlight of each day!
• Unwinding at the end of the day by making dinner and drinks with my spouse, then catching up on one of our favorite TV shows
• I look forward to 9:00PM, for that when I make my Black Russian and sit and watch a show on TV.
• Listening to audiobooks on the commute to/from work
• Gym on Tuesdays, bowling league on Wednesdays
• Crocheting while watching something interesting on the Roku service.
• The kids are grown and I don’t have a pet so those options are out. I try to reserve an hour for myself in the evenings. I usually spend it on my iPad — often reading on the Kindle app, but sometimes playing games or checking Facebook (time to catch up on kids and grandkids).
• Nothing
• A bit of time for a game (bejeweled) on Facebook and reading posts and news
• Spending the evening with my husband.
• Cooking dinner
• All of the above are surely better than the alternative, eh.
• Besides reading NewsDash, phone call from my son on his evening commute.
• Heading up to bed to read my Kindle before going to sleep.
• Climbing into a warm cozy bed.
• The commute home from work on the train. Me time without the driving stress.
• Spending time with my spouse
• I enjoy any time at home, whether it is lounging (read, TV, puzzles) or doing projects (cleaning, organizing).
• My after-work cocktail on the deck
• Practicing Piano

In verbatim comments, the majority of readers stressed how important it is to destress and unwind. Many described how their most-anticipated daily activity makes them feel. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who reminded me of the part of the day I most anticipated when my children weren’t grown: “Specifically, the moment I pick my kids up each day. They’re (usually) so happy to see me and so excited to tell me about their day. All of my worries are temporarily suspended.” 

Verbatim

The dogs are the highlight of my day! <3 Especially on days when I have time to work them on sheep (herding.)

Specifically, the moment I pick my kids up each day. They're (usually) so happy to see me and so excited to tell me about their day. All of my worries are temporarily suspended.

Listening to audiobooks on the commute to/from work is my idea of multi-tasking.

Walking out the front door of the office elicits such a sense of freedom; the 40 minute drive home listening to music further calms my mind and body. To open the gate of my front garden I am truly happy to be home where my husband and daughter await leaving all that is my working career behind.

Really it's what you can fit in around work. I would love to sleep, love to read, but work comes first in our society.

This question caused me to really think. I can't come up with any activity in my daily routine that I look forward to. I do what I'm supposed to do. Get up, go to work, eat, read, sleep, repeat.

When I can go for a good run after work,that will wipe a stressful day from my mind!

I like the creativity of making a meal. Not every night, mind you, but 3 to 4 times a week....

TV, meh. Can't believe how much I'm paying to watch programs I saw for free while growing up.

I live for the weekends - just so I can sleep in!

Every moment we are awake, we are bombarded with stimuli. It is nice to recline, close our eyes and let sleep rejuvenate our bodies, mind and soul.

There's more than one thing that I look forward to each day.

I'm retired, so my daily routine is pretty much routine.

By reading, I mean an actual book, not a screen. I like the feel of a book in my hands and turning physical pages.

Need my time early every morning in the office to read WSJ and drink coffee before the deluge starts all over again.

Spending time with my kids when it doesn't involve homework 🙂

Going to the gym after work allows me time to decompress from the day so I enjoy my evenings more.

It's great to get home (or stay home) and put on sweats to do whatever I please!

Tough choice between reading and watching tv. But tv wins out as I think back to last night & how much I enjoyed watching the Syracuse/Duke basketball game. On those nights when there is a favorite sports team or an episode of a engaging tv show on, I look forward to watching tv and forgetting about the routine and stress of my day.

My commute is so tiring that eating dinner and sleeping are my only activities during the week

I turn off all electronic devises and read Brain Candy or something Spiritual before bed. Reading helps me turn the events of today and tomorrow off, and promotes relaxation.

I started taking piano lessons at the age of 57. I really look forward to the hour that I spend each evening at the piano. It seems so much more productive than sitting in front of the TV listening to everyone's opinions about the things happening in the world today!

After exercising, coming home for dinner and then read the paper.