Brits avoid taking care of admin tasks because they don’t have time (Image: Getty)
Brits put off essential life admin for more than three months before finally getting around to sorting it. A study of 2,000 adults revealed booking MOTs, paying credit card bills, filling out tax returns and booking doctor’s appointments are among the most commonly delayed jobs.
Nearly half admitted these admin tasks take a back seat because they prioritise other tasks, while others blame it on not having enough time, or leaving it because it’s not a serious enough issue (27%). However, 30% have put something important off for so long that they ended up missing a deadline, resulting in late fees (35%) or access to a vital service being cut off (15%).
It can be easy to overlook messages from providers (Image: Pinpep)
A quarter have missed paying an electricity or water bill, while 21% have failed to renew a direct debit. As a result, 13% lost access to essential services like water and electricity, and one in 10 (9%) were unable to drive their cars.
The study was commissioned by BT’s Digital Voice service to raise awareness of the swap from analogue landlines to digital, which could see a customer’s service disrupted if they don’t act when contacted about it.
Turns out, 29% have ignored or delayed responding to messages from a provider about an essential service like the digital landline switch, and only 18% said they immediately take action when they are reminded of tasks.
Clare Balding, who is working with the provider to encourage customers to act promptly when contacted, said: “When your provider gets in touch, it’s vitally important you act to ensure your landline services keeps running smoothly. If you don’t respond, the services you rely on could be disrupted.”
Many of us are guilty of putting off important tasks (Image: PinPep)
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings, which has teamed up with the brand, said: “Often, people procrastinate over life admin because the tasks feel overwhelming or tedious, and our brains are wired to seek out activities that are more immediately rewarding.
“There’s also a sense of avoidance at play, we tend to underestimate the consequences of delay and overestimate the effort required to get started.
“Ultimately, we can all be guilty of putting things off, but when there’s a deadline looming, as in the case of the nationwide switchover to digital landlines, it’s time to take action.”
More than three quarters (77%) wished they had more of a ‘take action’ attitude to avoid missing important deadline dates for life admin. But 50% revealed they do most of the admin in their household, compared to 20% who split it equally with their partner.
Meanwhile 21% also manage the life admin for people outside the household, on top of the average of five tasks most people complete each and every month.
Of those who support others completing their household management, 72% said this impacts their ability to manage their own life admin.
Yet 75% of those polled, via OnePoll, felt confident about managing important life admin tasks which involve changing technology, like making the swap to digital landlines.
BT Digital Voice spokesperson, Lucy Baker, said: “As our research shows, it’s easy to overlook messages from service providers, but doing so could disrupt essential connections when it comes to the digital landline switch.
“It’s important to take action when contacted, so everyone can benefit from more reliable, secure technology and stay connected to the services they rely on.”
THE TOP 10 MOST COMMONLY PUT OFF ADMIN JOBS:
Booking a dentist appointment
Booking a doctor appointment
Updating passwords / digital security
Switching a provider (e.g. internet)
Cancelling or setting up a direct debit
