Mystery keys, instruction booklets and failing relationships are among the things Brits hold onto for too long, according to a new study. A poll of 2,000 adults found 63% have kept possessions, habits or commitments beyond their useful life, while 42% find it easier to stick with the familiar than make a change.
What Brits Hold Onto
Other things typically kept longer than necessary include mobile phones (27%) and chipped mugs (22%). The study, commissioned by Samsung, also found 43% would be more likely to let go if they knew the replacement was genuinely better. Currently, 56% have a designated drawer for old tech items such as phones, tablets and charging cables.
Jobs (40%), friendships (36%) and relationships (47%) were among other things Brits admitted having kept or stayed in longer than they should have.
Why We Cling to the Familiar
Nicole Everingham, an accredited relationship coach who has teamed up with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, said: “We’re often drawn to what feels familiar, even when it isn’t necessarily making us happy.
“Change brings uncertainty, effort and the possibility of regret, while staying where we are can feel like the safer option.
“Sometimes, we become so accustomed to a situation that we learn how to live with the unhappiness, rather than questioning whether something different might suit us better.”
The Impact of Finally Letting Go
The study also found that when people did eventually make a change they had been putting off, 43% wished they had done it sooner. While 38% felt relieved, and 36% wondered why they had waited so long. Three in 10 felt happier with their decision than expected, while only 7% regretted making the change.
Of those who held onto a partner for too long, 46% hoped things would improve, while 35% felt leaving was harder than staying and the comfort or familiarity of the relationship made it difficult to leave (35%).
Reasons for Holding On
Overall, the biggest reason given for holding on to things longer than necessary was the feeling they might need them one day (52%). While 47% held onto things because they still worked, and 40% cited sentimental value.
It also emerged 42% stayed with something longer than they wanted to because it felt easier to do nothing, while 41% put off making a decision. With 32% saying they find it difficult to replace something familiar with something new, according to the OnePoll data.
When it comes to phones, 54% of those who had switched to a different phone brand or type were glad they had, while 52% felt their new phone better suited their needs. And 48% found switching easier than expected, with 35% wishing they had made the change sooner.
Nicole Everingham added: “Confidence doesn’t always come from knowing exactly what happens next.
“It can come from trusting ourselves to handle the uncertainty and being open to the possibility that something different might suit us better.
“Sometimes, the first step isn’t making a big decision, but simply becoming curious about what else is possible.”
The top 10 things Brits struggle to let go of include a romantic relationship, a job or career, worn-out underwear, a friendship, instruction booklets for products they no longer own, mystery keys they no longer recognise, a living situation or home, a mobile phone, a subscription or membership, and chipped mugs.
