Notorious as a nation for being reserved, receiving a hug or a kiss from a loved one is the top ingredient for a perfect day, according to a new study.
The other elements of the perfect day include ‘having a lie-in’, ‘being smiled at’, ‘enjoying good food’ – and all on a ‘sunny day’.
Naturally, there are differences according to age. For 25-44 year olds, a ‘lie-in’ topped the list while 47 percent of over-55s said getting a smile from a stranger was uplifting.
The nationwide study, commissioned for the launch of Citroën’s Perfect Day campaign and released on ‘Blue Monday’ aims to find out what things make the UK public happy.
The French manufacturer hopes that the campaign will encourage people to banish the January Blues and lift their spirits by planning their own Perfect Day whilst experiencing Citroën ownership with a 24-hour test drive.
Citroën toured the UK to find 12 of the happiest people around and to see what makes their Perfect Day, including the likes of a double amputee soldier, who at the age of 21 years old suffered catastrophic injuries from an IRA bomb. Despite spending six years in hospital, he overcame this horrific incident to become one of the world’s best skydivers and finds happiness in the freedom skydiving gives him to move in ways not possible on the ground.
To watch the video of Citroën’s perfect day, click here.
Overall, almost half of Britons (49 percent) admit that a hug is the best way to start the day. According to scientists, a hug releases the feel-good neurotransmitter oxytocin, also known as the bonding hormone.
| Top 6 ingredients for the perfect day | Female % | Male % | |
| 1 | Receiving a hug | 58.61 | 39.80 |
| 2 | Receiving a kiss from a loved one | 50.79 | 41.82 |
| 3 | Having a lie-in | 50.20 | 40.20 |
| 4 | Enjoying good food | 48.42 | 37.37 |
| 5 | A sunny day | 47.92 | 35.05 |
| 6 | Being smiled at | 47.72 | 33.64 |
At number five on the list was a good dose of sunshine, while a simple smile – proven to lower stress, anxiety and improve the immune system – from a stranger completes the ingredients for a perfect day.
More than four in ten (43 percent) of respondents admitted that enjoying good food was a vital part of their ideal day.
And, despite the avalanche of New Year’s Resolutions about doing more exercise, just 8 percent of those surveyed said going to the gym would form part of their perfect day.
Citroën’s Perfect Day campaign portrays 12 unique individuals, who are all fuelled by their passion for sharing happiness with others. The short films include 2015 Britain’s Got Talent finalists, Old Men Grooving, alongside former soldier and double amputee Al Hogdson and dance aerobics instructor Maxine Jones. In addition to the main film, 12 short films about each of the individuals can be found on the Citroën YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/citroenactive.
The majority of the Citroën range is available for 24-hour test drives; for more details on the campaign visit:http://citroen.co.uk/my-perfect-day.
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