Are you a toilet paper folder or a scruncher? Do you eat cereal for dinner sometimes? Have you ever Googled your own name?
If you’re wondering whether these habits make you weird, you’re asking the wrong question. The better question is: why do we care so much about being “normal” in the first place?
The Universal Need to Belong
Humans are social creatures who survived by staying connected to their tribe. Being “different” could mean being cast out, which in ancient times was often a death sentence.
Today, we’re not worried about literal survival, but our brains haven’t evolved past that fundamental need to fit in. We still scan our environment constantly, asking: “Am I like the others? Do I belong here?”
This is why the question “Is this normal?” is so powerful—and so anxiety-provoking.
The Problem with “Normal”
Here’s the thing about normal: it’s largely invisible. We see people’s public behaviour, but we don’t see what happens behind closed doors. This creates a skewed picture of what’s actually typical.
Consider these examples:
What we see publicly: People who seem to have their lives together, posting perfect family photos and career achievements.
What happens privately: Those same people might be struggling with anxiety, relationship problems, financial stress, or wondering if they’re the only ones who sometimes hide in the bathroom for five minutes of peace.
What we see publicly: People confidently expressing opinions and making decisions.
What happens privately: Internal doubt, overthinking, and the same questions everyone has: “Am I doing this right? What would others do?”
The Comparison Trap
Social media has made this worse. We’re constantly comparing our behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else’s highlight reel. No wonder so many people feel like they’re falling short of some invisible standard.
But what if the standard itself is wrong? What if “normal” is much more varied, messy, and human than we think?
The Real Range of Human Experience
When researchers actually study human behaviour anonymously, the results are often surprising:
- That “weird” habit you have? Probably shared by millions of others
- That embarrassing thought? Most people have had it too
- That way you handle stress? There are countless others doing exactly the same thing
- That thing you’re ashamed of? You’re definitely not alone
The problem isn’t that we’re abnormal, it’s that we don’t have access to accurate information about what normal actually looks like.
Why Anonymous Data Matters
This is where anonymous surveys become powerful. When people can answer honestly without fear of judgment, we get a much clearer picture of human behaviour.
Take the example about toilet paper. It might seem trivial, but it illustrates something important: even our most basic daily habits vary widely. There’s no single “right” way to do most things, there’s just the way that works for you.
The Relief of Reality
When we discover how common our supposedly “weird” traits actually are, something magical happens. The anxiety about being different fades. We can stop spending mental energy worrying about whether we’re normal and start focusing on whether we’re happy.
This doesn’t mean all behaviours are equally healthy or helpful. But it does mean that most of our quirks, habits, and ways of thinking fall well within the normal range of human experience.
Beyond Normal: Finding Your People
The real benefit of understanding the true range of human behaviour isn’t just knowing you’re normal, it’s finding your people. When you discover others who share your experiences, habits, or perspectives, you find your tribe.
Maybe you’re not like everyone, but you’re like someone. And that’s often more valuable than being “normal.”
The Freedom to Be Human
Understanding what’s actually “normal” gives us permission to be human, flawed, quirky, sometimes struggling, and definitely not perfect.
It means you can:
- Stop hiding the parts of yourself you think are weird
- Spend less time worrying about whether you’re doing life “right”
- Focus on what makes you happy rather than what makes you normal
- Feel compassion for others who are also just trying to figure it out
Your Normal Matters
Every time you share your honest experience, even anonymously, you help expand our understanding of what normal human life actually looks like. Your quirks, your struggles, your way of doing things all contribute to a more accurate picture of humanity.
And when that picture is more complete, it helps the next person realise they’re not as strange as they thought they were.
Ready to discover where you fit in the real spectrum of human experience?
We collect your email address so we can send you updates after you complete our questionnaire. We do ask for general demographic information like birth year, gender, and income range, this helps us understand patterns in the responses. We never ask for your name, address, or exact date of birth. Your personal identity remains anonymous and is never connected to your answers. Your curiosity drives our insights, not who you are.