The average adult yawns at least five times a day.
That’s according to research conducted by the UK’s bed specialist Bensons For Beds. The data has been released as part of a commemoration to celebrate the act of yawning this January. The statistics also revealed the thirty most awkward moments that Brits have been caught yawning. These include:
1. During a work meeting
2. While listening to a friend/relative tell a story
3. On public transport
4. While on a video call
5. When dining out
6. In church/a religious venue
7. At a party
8. On a night out e.g. at a bar
9. While driving
10. At a funeral
11. At the cinema
12. At a job interview
13. During a wedding ceremony
14. When someone is sharing emotional news / crying
15. At the theatre
16. On a date
17. At a concert
18. In a library
19. While giving a presentation
20. While reading my child a bedtime story
21. During a medical consultation e.g. doctors
22. Watching a sports game
23. During sex
24. When meeting a partner’s parents
25. When taking a photo/selfie
26. At the dentist
27. At my child’s parents evening
28. At an art gallery/museum
29. At the gym / fitness class
30. In a courtroom
You might be surprised to learn that yawning is actually good for you as it releases the ‘feel good’ hormone serotonin, as well as dopamine, which helps influence mood and sleep. So if you’re ever caught yawning in an awkward situation like one of those mentioned above, you can always have the perfect excuse ready that it is good for you and will help benefit society as it will make you more productive during the day because you will have had more rest at night.
There are also many different kinds of yawn, some may seem more polite than others but there is quite an easy way to differentiate between them.
Here’s a short guide so that you know what to look out for if you ever catch someone yawning.
The Cat Yawn
Take a deep breath, open your mouth wide and yawn in total silence.
The Stretch Yawn
Stretch your neck out, tilt your head back and unwind as you watch this expressive yawn stretch throughout your entire body.
The Mouse Yawn
Imagine your internal yawn slowly and quietly being released, as you keep your mouth squeezed as small as possible so as not to disturb anyone, perhaps just letting out a little squeak as the name suggests!
The Bear Yawn
Release your inner bear as your yawn becomes more embellished with extra sound effects like an ‘aaaaah’.
The Liberator Yawn
Feel this enthusiastic yawn take over your whole body, as it relaxes and rejuvenates you.
Yawning can also be extremely contagious. Have you ever been anywhere where someone starts yawning and it immediately makes you start yawning. This is due to the fact that it is a kind of social mirroring when organisms imitate the actions of others. It can also work between different species as it has been suggested that if a human sees their pet or any other animal yawning, it immediately makes them yawn and can help to form connections between different people or animals.
It can also be very funny and awkward watching different people yawning at different times. Have you ever been in a situation similar to this and been caught out?
Lisa Richards Head of Marketing at Bensons for Beds said: “We can’t always help when we yawn and sometimes the timing is not quite ideal or appropriate.
“However, yawning is proven to have a myriad of benefits, so at Bensons, we want to celebrate the yawn and spread its contagious, feel-good benefits.”
