Drinking coffee, waking up early among habits that shape Canadians' morning routines: Survey
· Toronto Sun
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Visit bettingx.bond for more information.
They say the early bird gets the worm.
And for many Canadians, waking up early is a common occurrence. But they can’t be productive until they’ve had their morning cup of java or first brushing their teeth.
While everyone’s morning habits differ from person to person, they are more common than you think. Recently, Australian-based health insurance comparison service iSelect surveyed more than 1,000 Canadians on what habits shape their morning routines.
The survey revealed that drinking coffee in the first hour of the morning is more common for Canucks than brushing their teeth, and that most Canadians wake up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. The survey also compared Canadian habits to their American and Australian counterparts.
“Our research shows that while morning routines differ across Australia, the United States and Canada, many people share the same challenge of turning good intentions into consistent habits,” said Andres Gutierrez, general manager – Health at iSelect, in a news release.
Here are the findings of the survey (and how they compare to other parts of the world).
Canadians are early risers
There are many early risers in Canada. The iSelect survey found that 13% wake up at 6 a.m. or 7 a.m., with 11% waking up at 6:30 a.m. and 10% at 8 a.m.
Men are more likely than women to awaken from their slumber at 5:30 a.m. (10% and 6%, respectively), with those waking up at 4:30 a.m. likely between the ages of 45-54 (8%).
Those aged 25-34 are most likely to rise at 6 a.m. (16%), with the 55-64 age group following closely at 15%. Those who sleep in until 11 a.m. are likely aged 18-24, according to those surveyed.
The reliance on alarms to wake up is nearly split, with 47% of those surveyed stating they wake up naturally compared to the 40% who use alarms. Six per cent state they use a smart alarm, while 4% are woken up by children or pets and 3% by other household members.
The iSelect survey found age is a determining factor in many morning routines. Younger adults are far less likely to naturally wake up, with 31% of 25-34-year-olds, 33% of 18-24-year-olds and 36% of 35-44-year-olds doing so. On the flip side, natural wake-ups are increasingly common with age, rising to 63% among those aged 55-64 and 77% for those 65 and over.
When it comes to alarms, the 35-44 age group (50%), and 25-34 age group (49%) are most likely to use them, compared to only 16% of those over the age of 65 reportedly using one.
Healthy morning habits
When it comes to starting their day, more Canucks do so with coffee (43%) than brushing their teeth (42%), making it Canada’s most common morning habit, according to iSelect. Other morning habits include drinking water (37%), eating breakfast (36%), showering and bed making (26%), doom scrolling on the phone (29%) and taking vitamins or medication (25%).
Habits such as drinking water remain popular across all age groups, while consuming coffee varies. Only 22% of 18-24-year-olds and 30% of 25-34-year-olds drink coffee within the first hour of waking, compared to 55% of 55-64-year-olds and 65% of those aged 65 and over.
Breakfast is a priority for 45% of those surveyed, while 22% say they eat the morning meal most days. Thirty-four per cent of younger adults (18-24) eat breakfast daily, while 59% of those aged 65 and over say they have breakfast every day.
American morning routines
When compared to our neighbours to the south, 16% of Americans wake up at 6 a.m., followed by 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. at 11%, and 5% sleeping in until 10:30 a.m. or later.
Half of the 1,044 from the United States that were surveyed reported waking up naturally without an alarm, while 37% say they use a standard alarm to roll out of bed. A small percentage use smart alarms (7%), are woken by children or pets (3%) or other household members (2%).
A cup of coffee and brushing teeth top the list (both at 44%), followed by drinking water (36%), and eating breakfast (35%). Many also prioritize habits like showering (28%), making the bed (25%) and feeding pets (22%). Despite the rise of wellness trends, habits like meditation (6%), reading (6%) and journaling (2%) remain less common among Americans.
Breakfast is a varying habit among Americans, but it remains a regular part of the daily routine, with 44% of people stating they eat breakfast every day, while 25% say they do so on most mornings. Seventeen per cent reportedly eat breakfast only occasionally and 10% rarely do so. A minority of Americans (4%) skip breakfast altogether.
Morning habits from the land down under
In another comparison, of the 1,020 Australians surveyed by iSelect, 16% wake up at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. However, habits vary across other parts of the country.
Tasmanians and Northern Territorians tend to start their days at 6:30 a.m at 28% and 33% respectively. Those rising at 5 a.m. are most likely to be Western Australians at 13%.
Twenty-two per cent of those living in Queensland and the Northern Territory begin their day at 6 a.m., and a more relaxed 7 a.m. start is popular among 20% of respondents in both Victoria and Western Australia.
Almost half of Australians (49.61%) wake up naturally without an alarm, something that’s more pronounced in certain states. Sixty-five per cent of those in the Australian Capital Territory rise naturally, followed by 58% in South Australia and 55% in both Western Australia and Queensland.
Smart alarm usage peaks in Victoria, where 10% of residents are opting for this method of waking.
Surprisingly, most Australians prioritize brushing their teeth (44%) over drinking coffee (39%) to start their day, with 41% starting their day with breakfast. Rounding up morning habits for Aussies are drinking water (33%), checking their phone (31%), making their bed (30%) and showering (28%).\