Time-poor Brits are terrible at life admin – with life insurance, writing wills and credit card bills all tasks we love to avoid.

The new Post Office study found that life insurance takes the average Brit over 10 months to sort out – with just over a third saying it was on their to-do-list for one to two years

Britain has been revealed to be a time poor nation which is terrible at getting life admin done.

Almost two thirds (63 percent) say that they feel ‘weighed down’ by their to-do lists and 50 percent have delayed important tasks because it felt overwhelming.

70 percent say they find paperwork and forms intimidating¹, which is putting them off completing life admin – with Gen Z (16-24) most likely to feel overwhelmed (87 percent).

It comes as the average Brit was found to procrastinate for over a month before ticking off an item – with some generations better at keeping on top of their growing lists than others.

On average, Gen Z are the quickest, taking less than a month (0.96 months) to tackle a task – while 45-54-year-olds are the biggest procrastinators, leaving items uncompleted for over a month (1.3 months).

The research conducted by the Post Office revealed that a lack of time is the number one barrier for completing life tasks (35 percent), followed by too much information to process (30 percent) and reading complicated instructions (27 percent).

In fact, 43 percent of Brits say they would hire a personal assistant to help them with life admin if they could afford one.

Managing household bills ranked as the life task Brits struggle with the most (32 percent), followed by writing a will (25 percent) and filing tax returns (18 percent). For Gen Z and Millennials (16-34), pensions are the sticking point – with 25 percent struggling with this the most.

But it is life insurance which languishes on the nation’s to-do lists, with the new research revealing it took the average respondent who has it over 10 months to sort.

Over a third (36 percent) of Brits without life insurance hold off getting it sorted because they don’t think it’s a priority or that they even need it. It comes as Post Office reveal the six reasons why life insurance is important.

However, Brits could be enticed into getting their life insurance sooner, with 30 percent saying that a financial incentive, such as cashback or discounts, would be enough to give them the nudge they need.

It comes as Post Office launch a limited time only Winter Warmer initiative which offers customers of Post Office Life Insurance and Post Office Over 50s Life Cover £30 Winter Warmer cashback to help take the financial stress off this winter.

The offer, which is only valid until the 31^st January 2025, has been designed to provide customers with financial relief as new year admin piles up - allowing them to contribute to either their January heating or household bills, or even just spend the money on themselves.

On top of the £30 Winter Warmer cashback, customers will also be eligible for £100 choice of gift card if they buy Life Insurance or £125 choice of gift card if they buy an Over 50s Life Cover policy, as an additional boost to help them navigate the tricky winter months.

Of those purchasing life insurance, 42 percent said it was for their peace of mind. Others were motivated by major life events: 31 percent were prompted by having kids, 23 percent when they bought their first house, and 18 percent when they got married.

Paul Paddock, Director of Pricing and Protection Products at Post Office, commented: “Although buying life insurance may seem daunting, or others may be asking themselves ‘why do I need life insurance?’ The benefits of life insurance and getting it ticked off your list include peace of mind and financial security for your loved ones.

“With our new £30 Winter Warmer cashback offer, we hope that the added financial incentive will encourage people to get their cover sorted whilst also giving them a helping hand to manage their household bills for the winter months. So, if you’re wondering ‘when should I get life insurance’, there’s no better time than now.”

The act of ticking an item off your to-do list also has an added bonus of releasing an endorphin rush with every item ticked off, according to productivity coach Juliet Landau-Pope. “When we complete a task that has been on our minds for a while, we experience what is known as the ‘progress principle’, where the brain releases dopamine into our systems, which then reinforces positive behaviours and boosts motivation. It’s nature’s own in-built reward system for getting your life admin sorted.”

But for those who need more motivation for their life admin, Landau-Pope reveals her top tips for getting started:

1. Break tasks down into small, manageable tasks

“Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Breaking them into very small steps and identifying the very first action can make it easier to get started.”

2. Use the Two-Minute Rule

“Small wins train your brain to associate action with reward. If a task takes less than two minutes, challenge yourself to do it immediately.”

3. Practice the Pomodoro method

“Aim to tackle your to-do list in short bursts: try to focus for 25-minute intervals, followed by five-minute breaks, to make tedious tasks less daunting.”

4. Make yourself accountable

“Sharing intentions with someone else makes it more likely that you’ll get things done. Tell a trusted friend or relative what you will do and when you will do it.”

5. Aim for progress, not perfection

“Procrastination and perfectionism often go hand in hand. If you’re struggling to start or finish a task, consider letting go of perfectionism. Why aim for perfect when excellent will do?”

The Post Office £30 Winter Warmer cashback offer, which was released on the 30^th December 2024, offers Post Office Life Insurance and Post Office Over 50s Life Cover customers £30 cashback to warm their winter.

For further guidance on why to take out life insurance, or the Post Office £30 Winter Warmer offer, you can check out this information here.

ENDS