• Brits' habits run deep: a third (33%) always use the same mug for tea, 29% always sit in the same place at the dinner table, 21% have a favourite gas ring on the cooker, and a quarter (25%) order the same takeaway every time.
• Dr Pepper® research highlights Britain's predictable daily routines, with almost all (95%) identifying as creatures of habit.
• As six in ten Brits (61%) feel stuck in a rut, seven in ten (70%) say they are keen to take on a small, fun ‘dare’ to embrace spontaneity.
• To celebrate its new Cream Swirl flavour, Dr Pepper® launches the Dr Darey Dare Deck with celebrity recruits Dick & Dom and Louie Spence, inviting the nation to shake up routines.

18^th March 2026, LONDON: Brits are a nation firmly rooted in their comfort zones. New research, commissioned by Dr Pepper® to celebrate the launch of its new Cream Swirl flavour, reveals just how predictable daily life has become, with millions admitting they stick to the same routines day after day.

For many, it seems that life now runs on default settings, with daily rituals like drinking their tea from the SAME mug (33%) and listening to the same songs (29%) on loop. Four in ten (44%) go to the same supermarket weekly, buy the same brands (36%), cooking the same meals on rotation (19%), and a further 19% eat the same lunch almost every day.

Beyond daily sustenance, familiarity reigns: more than a quarter (27%) stick to known restaurants, a fifth (22%) take the same route to work, and over one in five (21%) even have a favourite gas ring on the cooker. 

When it comes to downtime, the nation is just as predictable, with 46% having their own dedicated ‘spot’ on the sofa, where they sit to watch the same shows (34%) and eat the takeway they always have (25%). This extends to weekends, as 18% follow the same routine EVERY weekend.

Dr Pepper® is daring the nation to step out of the ordinary and try something new, all to celebrate the launch of the new flavour - Cream Swirl. Dr Pepper®'s mascot, Dr Darey, has teamed up with well-known recruits Dick and Dom and Louie Spence. They are on a mission to invite the nation to shake up routines through the Dr Darey Dare Deck – a card game designed to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone. 

Participants pull a prompt card and answer card to generate a dare - such as initiate a bold display of confidence by serenading a stranger - all to embrace small moments of unpredictability and see where they lead. Each completed dare is celebrated with a Dr Pepper® Cream Swirl. Fans can even win a pack of the cards by commenting on Dr Pepper® 's dedicated TikTok post.

Dick and Dom commented: "We've spent years entertaining people and making them laugh, but recently we’ve been getting stuck into the world of DJ’ing, and we know there’s magic to be unlocked when you break from your comfort zone! Dr Darey is so much fun, exactly what we love and we’re buzzing for everyone to grab a card, take the leap, and maybe even find a new favourite fizzy drink!

Louie Spence added: “I've never been one to be shy, but I totally get that doing something new can feel daunting! I'm embracing a new chapter myself with my YouTube series, so I was absolutely keen to get involved and encourage everyone to try new things. Dr Darey is all about embracing that inner sparkle and saying 'yes' to a little bit of fun. So, Dare to Cream and give it a whirl!"

There's a real national appetite for something new, as an overwhelming 96% of Brits agree it's good to try new things, and almost 9 in 10 (87%) are itching to embrace more spontaneity in their lives. 7 out of 10 Brits (70%) say they would be likely to take a small, fun ‘dare’ to try something new, with 21% even wishing they dared to strike up a conversation with a stranger. 

Sara Porter, Brand Manager for Dr Pepper® said: “Brits are clearly creatures of habit, and while there’s comfort in the familiar, our research shows that six in ten feel stuck in a rut. Yet, crucially, an overwhelming 96% also agree it’s good to try new things. With our new Cream Swirl flavour, we want to inspire people to dare to do things differently, even if it’s just making a small switch to trying something new. It’s about celebrating those moments of discovery.”

44% believe that a change in routine could even help improve their overall health, while 39% think it would improve their mental wellbeing. And for those who have been brave enough to step out of their comfort zone, 42% felt anxious at first, but ended up feeling proud of themselves, with many finding new things exciting (73%) and confidence-boosting (72%).

Clinical psychologist Dr Sophie Mort comments on the psychology of habit: “For many of us, repetition feels good. There is quiet comfort in familiarity, offering reassurance, belonging and a sense of stability. The brain also favours habits because they conserve energy; behaviours become automatic, requiring very little conscious thought. This leads us to habitually reach for the same mug or settle into the same seat. However, the difficulty begins when routine is no longer chosen, but unconscious. When our days run entirely on autopilot, without variation, the brain receives less stimulation, days blur, and mood can begin to flatten. Over time, that’s when people start to feel quietly stuck, not because life is wrong, but because it has become too predictable.”

“We often assume change must be dramatic to be meaningful, but psychologically, that isn’t the case. The brain responds to small shifts just as readily as it does to large ones. Trying something slightly different, even as simple as a new drink or restaurant, reintroduces freshness. Novelty stimulates the brain’s reward system, linked to motivation and mood. We don't need to abandon routine, which is protective, but weaving in moments of difference reminds us that life is not fixed. As 96% of Brits agree, trying new things is good, and starting small is particularly powerful. It builds self-belief, shows change is possible, and makes new behaviours sustainable. Ultimately, it’s less about reinvention and more about flexibility — the willingness to step outside autopilot from time to time, which is closely associated with resilience and overall wellbeing.”

DR SOPHIE MORTS TOP TIPS ON HOW TO EMBRACE CHANGE:

1. KNOW YOUR ‘WHY’ - We are far more likely to sustain new habits when they align with who we want to become. Ask yourself: who do I want to be in one year? In five? Let your changes reflect that direction.
2. NOTICE YOUR DEFAULTS - Awareness is the starting point. Where are you operating on autopilot? Which habits move you towards the person you want to be and which quietly pull you away? Only tackle the latter.
3. ADD, DON’T JUST REMOVE - People often focus only on stopping habits they don't like rather than introducing replacements. It’s often easier to replace than to resist. For example, instead of “I won't go on holiday to the same place again”, try “I will try a new destination once each year, using recommendations from my friends”.
4. START SMALL - Change feels safer when the stakes are low. Choose the smallest meaningful shift you can make - a different lunch, a new route, a new flavour - and be specific about when you’ll try it.
5. BE PRECISE - Vague intentions fade quickly. Decide exactly what you will do, when you will do it, and why it matters to you. Put it in your diary. Clear away any potential obstacles that may leave you saying “oh well, I will start tomorrow”.
6. GET SOMEONE ELSE INVOLVED - New routines are easier and often more enjoyable when shared. Accountability increases the likelihood that change will stick.
7. TREAT CHANGE AS AN EXPERIMENT - Do the thing and remember, you are gathering information, not passing a test. Curiosity reduces pressure and makes discomfort easier to tolerate. See how your new activity feels and how you feel after. What surprised you. What would make it easier or more pleasurable to do next time?
8. EXPECT SOME DISCOMFORT - Mild anxiety is a natural response to novelty. It doesn’t mean something is wrong. it usually fades as familiarity grows.
9. REPEAT CONSISTENTLY - Small changes practised regularly reshape behaviour more effectively than dramatic changes attempted occasionally. Consistency builds momentum. If you get to the end of the day and realise you forgot your new habit, don’t abandon it. Instead, take a moment to vividly imagine yourself doing it — mental rehearsal strengthens the same neural pathways and then simply begin again the next day.
10. AIM FOR FLEXIBILITY, NOT UPHEAVAL - The goal isn’t to become a different person overnight. It’s about gradually widening your comfort zone, building resilience and confidence over time. And remember, change is built through repetition not perfection

Dr Pepper® Cream Swirl, blending Dr Pepper® ’s unmistakable flavour with an indulgent, creamy twist and a sweeter edge, is now on shelves nationwide as part of the #TryMoreWeird campaign, encouraging fans to 'Dare to Cream'. 

You can also win a pack of the Dr Darey Dare Deck by entering the competition on the latest post on Dr Pepper® ’s TikTok page. 

-ENDS-