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Are People Spending Too Much Time ‘Dreamscrolling’?

Many of us have been there, sprawled out on the couch, phone in hand, getting lost dreamscrolling, looking at dream purchases. That moment when you find yourself spending way too…

woman laying on back in bed scrolling through phone.
Zmaster/ Getty Images

Many of us have been there, sprawled out on the couch, phone in hand, getting lost dreamscrolling, looking at dream purchases. That moment when you find yourself spending way too much time envisioning luxurious vacations, owning fun gadgets, and luxurious clothes.

A poll of 2,000 people conducted by OnePoll on behalf of financial services company Empower looked into how much time the average person spends dreamscrolling and their dreamscrolling habits.

How much time does the average person spend dreamscrolling?

According to the survey results, the average American spends nearly two and a half hours a day dreamscrolling, looking at dream purchases or things they’d like to one day own. Also revealed is that more than two in five respondents say they spend more time dreamscrolling when the economy is uncertain (43%). In a year, that amounts to about 873 hours or nearly 36 days spent scrolling.

They found that 71% say it’s time well spent, as the habit motivates them to reach their financial goals.

How often do people dreamscroll?

The survey reveals half of the respondents say they dreamscroll while on the job, and of those, one in five admits to spending between three and four hours a day multitasking while at work. Gen Zers spend the most time dreamscrolling at just over three hours per day, while boomers spend the least, clocking in around an hour.

It gives you the push that you need.

Survey respondents say looking at dream purchases makes it easier for them to be smart with their money (56%), avoid making unplanned purchases or going into debt (30%), and better plan to achieve their financial goals (25%).

Nearly seven in 10 people see dreamscrolling as an investment in themselves (69%) and an outlet for them to envision what they want out of life (67%). Four in 10 respondents (42%) say they regularly spend time picturing their ideal retirement. This includes their retirement age, location, and monthly expenses.

What are people looking at?

According to the survey, one in five respondents are looking at homes or apartments (21%), while a quarter look at vacation destinations (25%), beauty or self-care products (23%), and items for their pets (19%).

Others spend time looking at clothing, shoes, and accessories (49%); gadgets and technology (30%); and home décor or furniture (29%).

More than half (56%) currently have things left open in tabs and windows or saved in shopping carts that they’d like to purchase or own in the future. Those respondents estimate it would cost about $86,593.40 to afford everything they currently have saved.

Check out the complete study here.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.