We only have two bathrooms and are about to start a remodeling project in one of them. My fear? We will kill each other due to the length of time that some of my family members spend in the bathroom. Why do my boys (well really all men) spend so much time on the commode?
Recently, I’ve had to ask my boys not to bring their handheld devices (phones, ipods) into the bathroom because when they have them they spend twice as long in there! When we are late to get somewhere it is invariably because one had to “go to the bathroom” at the last-minute!
A study by the National Association of Continence (seriously!) found that the average American spends about an hour a day on the commode. That’s two weeks a year when no one will bother you. Two weeks a year when you are totally (hopefully) alone with your thoughts. That’s your two weeks of vacation time from work. If I do my math right, by the time you are 80, you will have spent almost three full years in the bathroom. These studies also show that men spend more time on the commode than women (not surprised, I’m sure).
But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe in the increasingly complex world we live in, the bathroom represents a throw back to easier times. A time when you can relax and think and … well you know, solve the world’s problems!
According to another study, women spend an average of two years of their life getting ready for their day in comparison to the six months men spend. This study found that women spend ten minutes each day showering, thirty minutes applying make-up, twenty-four minutes fixing their hair and twenty-six choosing clothing and getting dressed (seems a little excessive to me … maybe a man performed this study). The average man spends just eleven minutes getting ready, which includes five minutes to shower, two to shave, one minute on hair and one minute dressing. If this study is true, it’s a wonder that women are able to get anything done considering they also spend more than twice as much time doing household chores than men!
I spend very little time in the bathroom, mainly because they are always in use. I also spend very little time getting ready, mainly because I don’t wear make-up or have a significant wardrobe to choose from (hmm, will I wear that black dress today or that other black dress today?). My daughter is the same way.
So the debate rages on in our house about who is spending more time in the bathroom. This one isn’t going away any time soon. I’m sure by now you’ve recognized the incredibly highbrow topics that are debated in our house.
Enjoy your day!
theyearof50 