Despite our famous stiff upper lip reputation, a new survey by Tetley has discovered Britons express their love and emotion through small but meaningful actions, with two thirds (61 percent) agreeing that in the current climate we need caring gestures more than ever.
Making someone a cuppa when they are sad (62 percent) tops the list, followed by sending thoughtful text (52 percent) and asking someone how their day was (48 percent).
It appears clear that tea, and the rituals around it, are part of Britain’s love language – as knowing how someone likes their tea (18 percent) and bringing someone a cuppa in bed (25 percent) also made the list.
Holding the door for someone (36 percent), giving someone a foot rub after a hard day at work (30 percent) and letting someone put their legs up on you on the sofa (21 percent) all made the list of Brits love language to family and friends, along with giving someone your last chip (19 percent) and handing over control of the remote control (17 percent).
One in ten (10 percent) think cutting someone’s toenails and plucking someone’s eyebrows (nine percent) are a sign you care, while one in twenty (five percent) EVEN considering popping a loved ones spots (five percent) as an expression of love.
Two thirds (62 percent) of the 2,000 Brits polled by Tetley believe that actions speak louder than words when it comes to showing you care about someone, with 67 percent adamant that caring gestures don’t have to always be big and bold.
The survey results come as Tetley is taking to the air with a new TV campaign to emphasise the vital caring role of tea in everyday British life.
A further 67 percent would prefer someone to do something small and thoughtful rather than a big and flashy declaration of love.
In fact, two thirds (65 percent) go a step further and say that small caring gestures make them feel MORE loved than big ones and are the secret to a happy relationship (98 percent).
Tetley is encouraging the nation to champion these quiet acts of kindness that form the true language of British affection, and care for each other more.
“It’s really encouraging to see how simple gestures and quiet acts of kindness still form the true language of British affection and care for each other,” says Mat Bird, Director of Marketing for Tetley. “It’s no surprise that putting the kettle on comes so high on the list of gestures; making someone a cup of tea is a simple way to communicate so much; tea has a silent language that shows you care and it’s something we should all do a little bit more of.”
93 percent think Brits are reserved when it comes to showing their feelings and emotions, with 61 percent admitting they find it hard and embarrassing telling someone they love them.
As a result, three quarters (76 percent) feel more comfortable doing something nice for someone rather than saying ‘I love you’.
On average we do 19 caring gestures a day, compared to saying ‘I love you’ just five times.
Half (50 percent) think they’ve become MORE caring as they’ve got older with a third (35 percent) believe that younger Brits are less caring than previous generations.
30 SMALL WAYS BRITS SHOW THEY CARE…
- Making someone a cup of tea when they’re sad – 62%
- Sending a thoughtful text – 52%
- Asking someone how their day was – 48%
- Buying someone flowers – 46%
- Looking after someone when they are ill – 46%
- Giving a spontaneous hug – 41%
- Complementing someone on the way they look – 38%
- Holding someone’s hand – 37%
- Holding the door for someone – 36%
- Cooking someone their favourite meal – 34%
- Offering to put the kettle on – 32%
- Sending someone a cute meme – 32%
- Baking someone a cake – 31%
- Giving a foot rub after a busy day – 30%
- Cleaning the house as a surprise – 30%
- Giving someone your last square of chocolate – 27%
- Saving the last biscuit for someone – 26%
- Offering to take the bins out – 26%
- Bringing you a cup of tea in bed in the morning – 25%
- Letting someone put their legs up on you on the sofa – 21%
- Running someone, a candle lit bath – 19%
- Calling someone ‘love’ or ‘babe’ – 19%
- Sharing your umbrella – 19%
- Making chicken soup when someone is ill – 19%
- Letting someone have your last chip – 19%
- Swapping your meal when your partner ordered badly at a restaurant – 18%
- Knowing how someone likes their tea – 18%
- Laughing at someone’s joke – 18%
- Playing your partner’s favourite song in the car – 18%
- Letting someone have the remote control – 17%
