Society Magazine

‘Little Jobs’ Stacking up as Brits Ignore the To-do-list

Posted on the 24 August 2015 by 72point @72hub
‘Little Jobs’ Stacking up as Brits Ignore the to-do-list

The average Brit is currently 'putting off' eight jobs - including painting a room, booking a dentist appointment and washing the car, a study revealed.

Clearing out old clothes, defrosting the freezer and changing, or even arranging a will are also among the jobs we need to do but keep putting off until a later date.

But while the average adult avoids doing something for almost five weeks, almost one in ten admit they have taken five years or more to get around to sorting it.

It also emerged ignoring a to-do list has led to many having arguments with a partner or facing bigger bills than if they had done something straight away.

A spokesperson for mouldable glue Sugru, which commissioned the research, said: ''Brits are leading increasingly busy lives, making it more difficult than ever to fit in all of the little jobs we need to do.

"It doesn't help that many of the tasks on our to-do lists are things we're putting off because we simply don't know how to do them.

"Being too busy might be the main reason for putting something off, but it seems lots of the jobs we avoid are things which might seem too difficult or complicated, or perhaps we have to rely on other people to help with."

The study, of 2,000 adults, found painting or re-painting a room in your house is the job we are most likely to put off, followed by touching up skirting boards or painting over marks on a wall, cleaning out old clothes, defrosting the freezer and filing paperwork and bills.

Arranging or changing a will came sixth, with booking a dentist appointment, sorting old belongings for a car boot, shredding old paperwork and getting an eye test completing the top ten.

DIY tasks also feature heavily with hanging a picture frame, changing a light bulb, sorting a squeaky door hinge or dripping tap and putting up shelves in the list of jobs we avoid doing.

Sorting squeaky floorboards, bleeding a radiator, unblocking a sink and changing a plug or fuse are also among the top 50.

Tasks which involve official paperwork such as changing or switching utility companies, applying for or renewing a passport, filing a tax return and changing names or addresses after moving house or getting married are often put off until they become urgent.

Our cars are also victims of our dithering with washing it, topping up the air in the tyres, water or oil levels, and getting it serviced all on the list.

Simply not having time is the most common reason for putting off jobs, followed by finding the jobs boring and needing someone to help you.

But almost one in five admit they often put things off because they don't know what they are doing, while another 19 per cent can't afford to get them done.

Avoiding a task has consequences for some though with 45 per cent of people admitting it simply led to a bigger task further down the line, while 42 per cent said putting things off caused arguments with their other half.

Another 42 per cent even faced an extra cost by not doing something straight away, with the average Brit believing putting off jobs has cost them £156.43 in the past year alone.

A spokesperson for Sugru added: ''There is nothing more satisfying or empowering than finally crossing off that job which you have put off for days, weeks or even months.

"Make some time, get the right tools and set to it!"

Top 50 jobs and tasks we are putting off
  1. Painting a room/your house
  2. Touching up/ painting over marks on your walls/skirting boards
  3. Clearing out old clothes
  4. Defrosting the freezer
  5. Filing paperwork/bills
  6. Sorting/changing your will
  7. Booking a dentist appointment
  8. Sorting old things for a car boot or to put on eBay
  9. Shred paperwork/bills
  10. Getting an eye-test
  11. Washing the car
  12. Printing photos out
  13. Downloading photos from your phone/tablet to a PC or hard drive
  14. Putting items into the loft/getting things down from the loft
  15. Cutting the grass
  16. Hanging a picture frame
  17. Changing a light bulb
  18. Making changes to a TV/ phone package
  19. Applying for a new job
  20. Sorting a squeaky door hinge
  21. Getting quotes from tradesman to do jobs
  22. Fixing a dripping tap
  23. Putting up some shelves
  24. Getting a window cleaner round
  25. Changing/switching utility companies
  26. Putting air in the tyres of your car
  27. Servicing your car
  28. Renewing/applying for passports
  29. Booking a holiday
  30. Updating your smart phone/tablet/PC with the latest software
  31. Cancelling old subscriptions/direct debits
  32. Filing a tax return
  33. Sorting squeaky floorboards
  34. Changing names or addresses after moving house or getting married
  35. Topping up the water/oil on your car
  36. Renewing your home/contents insurance
  37. Bleeding a radiator
  38. Switching credit cards to low/ 0% interest rates
  39. Looking into/arranging a pension
  40. Unblocking a sink
  41. Paying in a cheque
  42. Claiming PPI
  43. Renewing car insurance
  44. Putting your child's name in their school uniform
  45. Changing your email address
  46. Changing a plug/fuse
  47. Returning kids library books
  48. Changing mortgage companies/checking current rates
  49. Making an insurance claim
  50. Cleaning the oven
ENDS

‘Little Jobs’ Stacking up as Brits Ignore the to-do-list
‘Little Jobs’ Stacking up as Brits Ignore the to-do-list


Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog