Brits spend two and a half hours daily doing this - and it makes them miserable

The typical Brit spends two and a half hours each day on autopilot, according to a survey of 2,000 adults.

They often find themselves performing tasks such ascommuting, preparing lunch, getting dressed, and engaging in small talk without much conscious thought or awareness. Nearly a quarter admitted to going through the motions while doing their grocery shopping.

Similarly, 22 per cent reported doing so while cooking, and an equal number confessed to switching to autopilot mode during housework.

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As a result Brits worry that life is passing them by, with most keen to shake things up and do something different.

The research was commissioned by biscuit company Maryland S'wich, who partnered with creative studio, 3D Joe and Max to design an optical illusion at London's King's Cross station.

Unveiled this week, the 3D artwork gives the illusion that the floor has been torn open, revealing a colourful utopian underground filled with greenery and giant cookie sandwiches.

The mural, which took a whopping 176 hours to construct and measures seven by five metres, was designed to "jolt passers-by out of autopilot."

A spokesperson for the biscuit brand said: "We found that Brits are struggling with slipping into autopilot and spending too much time each day going through the motions, not taking note of what’s important.

"We believe switching things up, particularly mundane tasks, to make them more fun is a great way to be more present which is why we commissioned this piece.

"We spend so much time looking down at our phones, so we wanted to challenge this, and give commuters something more joyful to look down at."

The study also discovered that as many as 20 per cent of adults feel disconnected in everyday life, which might explain why 70 per cent want to feel more "present, alive, and joyful" in general.

It also emerged that while 65 per cent consider living on autopilot to be a part of adulthood, 31 per cent believe they spend too much time in this mode.

And the biggest causes of it are repetition (34 per cent), tiredness (25 per cent), and boredom (20 per cent).

Top 30 tasks Brits do on autopilot

Cleaning your teeth

Washing up

Showering/bathing

Watching TV

Getting dressed

Making a cup of tea or coffee

Turning off lights

Washing and folding laundry

Scrolling on your phone

Eating meals

Doing housework

Checking emails

Putting on shoes

Putting the bins out

Grocery shopping

Locking up the house

Cooking/preparing a meal

Driving

Checking the weather

Filling the dishwasher

Changing the bedsheets

My job

Commuting daily

Feeding pets

Styling your hair

Setting an alarm

Personal admin

Deciding what to make for dinner

Small talk

Applying make-up