Work life balance tips as busy Brits ‘drop a plate' in home life

Eight in ten workers (82%) fail to do important things in their home lives every week as work takes over personal time, according to new research from American Express Insurance Services.

At a time of increasing concern over the health of the nation, exercise (45%) and cooking from scratch (34%) are two of the key activities that fall to the bottom of the ‘to do' list.

Relaxing at the end of a long day, also important for health, is suffering too as are personal relationships. One in four people admit to not spending enough time with their partner or children, and 39 per cent struggle to keep in touch with friends and relatives.

American Express Insurance Services asked a GB representative sample of over 1,900 working people which activities and commitments they were too busy to fit into their working day and so fell further down the ‘to do' list.

What Busy Brits drop from the ‘to do' list:

1. Exercise- 45%
2. Cleaning/tidying up at home 40%
3. Having "me time" at end of day 39%
4. Keeping in touch with friends and relatives 39%
5. Cooking a meal from scratch 34%
6. Getting a haircut 31%
7. Fixing a dentist appointment 26%
8. Sorting out finances/checking statements 27%
9. Planning or researching a holiday 24%
10. Having quality time with my partner / kids 25%

Women letting work take over

One in two (50%) women are too busy to have ‘me time' during the day compared to just 29 per cent of men. Women also believe their relationships with friends, family and partners suffer the most as a result of long working hours. Almost a third (30%) of women believe they miss out on spending quality time with their partner, while only one in five men (21%) think the same.

Keeping up appearances may also be difficult for working women, with 37 per cent having to put off haircuts and sacrifice personal grooming after a long day at work, compared to 25 per cent of men.

Effects on finances

Worryingly almost a third of Britons (30%) admit to not finding the time to research pension schemes and plan for their financial future, and at least one in four (27%) people cannot spare the time to check their bank statements.

Given the current economic climate, searching for the best deals has never been more important yet 13 per cent of Brits do not have the time to renew their insurance cover and search for better deals. 16 per cent of people forget to pay their bills due to lack of time, possibly incurring penalties.

People in North East Scotland are most likely to make time for their home lives, with 68 per cent managing to keep up with their weekly ‘to do' lists. In comparison, those in Yorkshire are most likely to have to drop tasks, with 86 per cent struggling to make time for personal commitments.

Chris Rolland, Head of American Express Insurance Services commented: "We recognise that for many hard working Britons there are simply not enough hours in the day. However, our research shows many Brits are letting their health, relationships and finances suffer as a result.

"American Express today is a lot more than just a credit card. As a service organisation that builds insurance services tailored to people's busy lives, we can take one worry off people's minds, freeing them up to do the things that are important to them. For instance we offer personal assistance services as part of our travel insurance product for busy people who need help on the go."