We can’t decide ... do we really dither for 2 years?

WE SPEND nearly three years of our lives dithering, according to research.

Dilemmas include what to have for dinner – which takes an average of almost seven minutes to decide – and what to wear, which consumes another four.

What to watch on Netflix (4mins 19sec), whether to go out (7mins 25secs) and what to order in a restaurant (6mins 19secs) also prove tricky.

Overall, six in ten adults admit they struggle to make decisions – spending an astonishing 7hr 36mins making up their minds during a typical week. Over a lifetime, that adds up to two years and nine months of dithering. ‘Too much choice’ is the top reason we find it hard to make up our minds, followed by wanting to be sure we make the right decision.

Some 60 per cent of adults said they had a tendency to make the wrong decision, although four in ten said indecisiveness had worked to their benefit.

About half admit they often try to avoid making decisions altogether, in the hope someone else will make the decision on their behalf.

However, Britons find it easier to make decisions about personal finance – just one in ten struggle to decide which utility provider to use, only 5 per cent agonise over which bank account to choose, and 85 percent have no qualms about dipping into their savings if they need to.

The survey of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by ISA and financial services provider Scottish Friendly.

Calum Bennie of Scottish Friendly said: ‘It is remarkable that many Britons find making important financial decisions a relative breeze.

‘Considering the current economic uncertainty following the election and Brexit, it is more important than ever that people do take the time to consider all the options available to them when it comes to money.’