A survey of 2-thousand U.S. adults from financial planning site Empower reveals the average American spends about two and a half hours a day “dreamscrolling” - or looking at things they’d like to own or bodies they'd like to have.
Over the course of a year, that adds up to 873 hours, dreamscrolling. If you looked at it like a 40 hour work week it would be almost 22 weeks of work. It sounds like a big chunk of time, but 71% consider it time well spent because the habit helps motivate them to reach their financial goals.
Half of respondents dreamscroll on the job, and 20% of them admit to spending between three and four hours multitasking at work every day. People who look at their dream purchases online say it makes it easier for them to be smart with their money (56%), avoid impulse buying or going into debt (30%) and better plan to make their financial goals a reality (25%).
More than two-thirds (69%) think of dreamscrolling as an investment in themselves and a way for them to envision what they want in life (67%).
Over half (56%) of respondents have tabs and windows on their computer open right now or things saved in shopping carts they’d like to buy or own in the future. Those that do estimate it would cost over $86-thousand to buy everything they currently have saved.
Popular things people dreamscroll on include apartments or homes (21%), vacation destinations (325%), beauty or self-care products (23%), items for their pets (19%), clothing, shoes and accessories (49%), gadgets and tech items (30%) and home decor and furniture (29%).
While 23% don’t think they’ll ever be able to afford most of the items they dreamscroll, 65% are optimistic they’ll be able to buy everything on their list one day.
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