Britons will spend almost 60 hours of Christmas break staring at their phone or a computer screen 

Forget board games, long walks and fireside chats – around 57 hours of our Christmas break will be spent staring at a screen – and not just for TV shows.

A study of 2,000 adults found they will spend 49 minutes a day on average ‘mindlessly scrolling’ through their phones during a week-long festive holiday.

They will spend an hour a day looking at their computer or phone for work-related reasons, while another 34 minutes each day will go on video calls with friends or relatives.

A study of 2,000 people, commissioned by contact lens supplier Vision Direct, found adults will spend 49 minutes a day on average ‘mindlessly scrolling’ through their phones during a festive holiday. (Stock image)

On top of this, adults will enjoy 116 minutes a day watching TV and an average of 95 minutes in front of films, with Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually and The Snowman on the must-watch list.

The study, commissioned by contact lens supplier Vision Direct, found that playing video games, additional use of tablets and texting add another 135 minutes, making a total of eight hours, nine minutes a day, or just over 57 hours in a week.

It also emerged that in the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, 37 per cent are looking forward to nothing more than lying in front of the TV ‘double screening’.

But vision experts have warned that excess screen use can be especially harmful during times of low light in late December.

Ashley Mealor, for Vision Direct, which commissioned the research, said: ‘Everyone knows they should cut down on screen time – but Christmas is a time to relax, and how else do we do that?

‘I know I’m going to be playing Sniper Elite 4 over the break when I’m not catching up with family.

Adults  will also spend an hour a day looking at their computer or phone for work-related reasons. (Stock images)

‘For many people, sitting down on the sofa with a cup of tea and a bit of free time to browse social media is something that brings them happiness.

‘Not to mention all the time we’ll spend as families watching movies, Christmas specials on TV, or on video calls with people we can’t see in real life.

‘Sadly, for many adults during a hectic 2020, they’ll also spend a lot of time staring at their laptop screens keeping an eye on work.’

The study also found that more than half of those polled expect their TV consumption to go up over the Christmas break, and three in 10 will look at their phones more often.