In response to a reader’s query about blinking, a fascinating look at how we spend our time over a lifetime has been revealed. On average, we blink 12 times per minute, each lasting about a third of a second. This adds up to roughly one hour each day, or an astonishing three and a half years over an 80-year lifespan.
But blinking is just the beginning. Here are other everyday actions and how much of our lives they consume:
– Yawning: Adults yawn around nine times daily, amounting to about two weeks over a lifetime.
– Putting on socks: Taking 20 seconds each day to put on socks adds up to nearly a full week.
– Scratching: With an average of 97 scratches per day, each lasting a few seconds, we spend approximately two months scratching over our lives.
– Toilet time: Depending on diet and distractions like mobile phones, we spend between one to three years on the toilet.
– Car travel: The average person spends just under three years travelling in a car, meaning some may spend more time on the loo than behind the wheel.
– Swallowing: We swallow at least 500 times daily, with some studies estimating up to 1,900 times. This adds up to about one year and nine months of your life spent swallowing.
This breakdown offers a quirky yet enlightening perspective on how seemingly trivial activities accumulate into significant portions of our lives. While we often focus on major life events and milestones, it’s these small, repetitive actions that quietly shape our daily existence.
