Watching paint dry is NOT boring as many Brits enjoy checking on it, study finds

Forget the old adage that says watching paint dry is boring – because lots of Brits love it.

A new study has found that for many people, DIY can have a positive effect on their mental and physical wellbeing.

And, according to researchers, over half of people surveyed (58%) actually enjoy watching and checking on drying paint.

Home improvement retailer Wickes teamed up with a leading neuroscientist to understand how DIY can help counter anxiety, stress, and improve wellbeing.

The DIY specialist also asked 1,500 people how they felt after watching a video on wallpapering a room.

And around half (45%) said the footage made them feel more relaxed, while one in 10 (9%) also admitted that sounds including mixing paste and cutting wallpaper helped them unwind.

The majority (86%) also said doing some form of DIY, such as upcycling, putting up a shelf or laying tiles, had been beneficial to their wellbeing and eased anxieties.

When asked about the best outlets for helping to improve wellbeing, doing DIY or home improvement topped the poll (51%) above yoga (30%), playing sport (26%) and practising a musical instrument.

Most (82%) of those surveyed revealed that saving money by opting to carry out a DIY task themselves rather than outsourcing it to a professional or family member improved their sense of wellbeing.

Wickes and TV neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis used the findings to create the world’s first DIY meditation movie, designed to encourage mindfulness by either watching or doing DIY tasks.

Dr Lewis said: “Various pieces of evidence suggest that both undertaking and watching DIY is a relaxing experience. Meditation in its purest form is about living in the moment, being present and focusing on the task in hand – and DIY allows exactly that.

“The process of undertaking DIY tasks means there is no ‘brain space’ left for worrying about past or future events. And its repetitive nature can also be very meditative.

“The 20-minute video aims to encourage a sense of calm for the viewer. Studies suggest that mindfulness or meditation for that length of time daily can result in better mind management after 12 weeks.

“Undertaking DIY tasks has benefits for overall wellbeing. The motor cortex in the outer surface of the human brain has specific areas dedicated to producing movements in different parts of our body. And the brain area dedicated to the hands and fingers are disproportionately large when compared to other body parts.

“That’s because performing skilled hand movements is a very important part of being human, and the enlarged brain areas needed to trigger them – supporting evidence that doing manual tasks, like DIY, makes us happy.”

The research also found that around three quarters of Brits (72%) feel carrying out a DIY task gives them a sense of accomplishment, while over half (52%) say it helps them step away from their phone or laptop (52%) – and it gives a sense of relief that a task has been ticked off the list (42%).

Almost half (47%) said they would recommend DIY as a remedy for someone suffering with anxiety.

Dr Lewis added: “Doing DIY and seeing improvements over time provides a heightened sense of self-efficacy and also creates feelings of accomplishment.

"However, it’s important that whenever any tasks are undertaken enough time is allowed to complete them without feeling rushed, as this can result in feelings of stress.

“Whether watching or doing DIY, make sure it’s in a place where you’re able to focus on the task at hand and not be distracted by external pressures.”

Gary Kibble, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, Wickes, said: “Historically DIY may have just been seen as a necessity for jobs in the home, but nowadays more people are doing it as an enjoyable pastime to help them relax. We hope that the meditation film will allow more people to enjoy DIY and reap the benefits.”

The ‘DIY Is Good For You’ film is available to view on both Wickes website and YouTube page.

Wickes' Most Satisfying DIY Tasks

1. Removing wallpaper (named by 41% as providing a feeling of satisfaction)
2. The first roll of paint on a wall (37%)
3. Pressure washing (35%)
4. Removing frog tape from a wall (33%)
5. Putting up a shelf (29%)
6. Sanding / sealing a bath / removing the lid from a tin of paint (16%)
7. Mixing paint / installing flooring (14%)
8. Fixing decking (10%)
9. Drilling (8%)

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