Survey shows that food, music and money put smiles on faces.

A NICE dinner, listening to one’s favourite songs and payday. These are Singaporeans’ top three simple pleasures, a poll has found.

The online poll of 1,000 Singaporeans aged 18 and above allowed respondents to pick multiple pleasures out of a list of about 60 items: 44% opted for a nice dinner, 40% enjoy tuning into their favourite songs and 37% rejoice when it is payday.

The survey was commissioned by the Small Luxury Hotels of the World organisation, which has members in more than 90 countries, and was conducted earlier this month by marketing research firm OnePoll.

The survey was also done in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The other top 10 simple pleasures picked by Singaporeans include exercising, watching one’s favourite movie or making someone smile or laugh.

However, more than half of Singapore respondents feel they do not get to enjoy such pleasures as often as they would like.

Some 48% of the respondents say they do not have the time to relish small life pleasures while 56% feel guilty when they take a break.

The top three reasons stopping Singaporeans from enjoying themselves are a lack of money (57%), lack of time (55%) and demands of work (48%), according to the survey, whose results was released this week.

The poll also found Singaporeans do not enjoy being in the sun as much.

Sunbathing was the least popular simple pleasure at 7%. Feeling the sun’s warmth on one’s face was chosen by just 16% of Singaporeans, compared with 44% of Britons, making it the top pleasure for those from Britain.

For Singaporeans, the least popular simple pleasures include writing lists (9%) and wearing a new pair of socks for the first time (11%).

The survey also found about onethird of Singapore respondents hope to sleep in a big comfortable bed (32%), spend the weekend away (31%) or catch stunning views (29%) – pleasures often found on holiday.