Do we offer time for us to live?!

Speeding through life could land us in a meltdown, say psychologists

By ARTHUR SMITH - More by this author »
Last updated at 22:00pm on 17th February 2008
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770


The study found that couples often do not make a lot of time for each other
Millions of us are in danger of "meltdown" because we race through life at break-neck speed, psychologists have warned.

They fear we could do serious damage to our health and relationships unless we slow down.

A study revealed that scores of us are bolting down our evening meal in less than ten minutes.

Others are hurrying through love-making in just two minutes.

Workers are also frittering their monthly wages well before their next payday.

The study also highlighted regional variations, with those in the North East topping the poll as the fastest-living.

Interestingly, those in busy London often led the most laidback lives.

The study examined the speed at which Britons complete a range of everyday tasks such as eating, spending money and having sex.

The startling results indicate that we are doing things faster than ever before, and demanding instant gratification.

Almost one in five workers spend their entire monthly salary in the first week. And almost half run out of money before pay day.

Those in the North-East are the quickest to put their hands into their pockets, according to the research.

A quarter will spend their wages within a week of being paid and an astonishing 8 per cent get through the lot on pay day.

Yorkshire residents are the most frugal, with half claiming their pay lasts until the end of the month.

Folk in the North-East also top the list of the nation's fastest lovers.

One in six spends less than ten minutes in the throes of passion and 3 per cent spend less than two minutes having sex.

In contrast, those from Birmingham spend the longest time having sex, with 14 per cent regularly making love for more than 45 minutes.

Overall, a third of us spend less than 20 minutes having sex. And in stark contrast to our European neighbours, a fifth of Britons spend ten minutes or less eating a typical evening meal.

Almost half finish dinner in less than 15 minutes.

Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James said we are now living at a "crazy pace".

She said: "The question we have to ask ourselves is, where is this going to end?

"In a few years, are we going to see ourselves spending even less time with loved ones and bolting down meals in just a few seconds?

"There is a real danger people are heading for meltdown unless we slow down and realise that there are only so many hours in the day in which to get everything done."

She said if Britons continue to live their lives at such speed, they risk a number of "potentially serious consequences".

"Relationships and family values could begin to suffer if we don't make enough time for our loved ones," she said.

"And our health is at risk if we don't take steps to manage our time more effectively."

The findings, released by Virgin Media, came from an online survey of 1,968 adults.