Brits have an average of 10 tasks on their to-do list at any one time, with cleaning the oven emerging as the most-delayed chore, according to a new survey.
Survey reveals overwhelming to-do lists
The research, commissioned by British Gas, found that six in 10 people say their to-do list is never completely ticked off. A significant 85% feel overwhelmed by the number of jobs they need to get done, and a similar number admit to having up to 10 unfinished jobs hanging over them.
Tasks range from organising paperwork and returning unwanted purchases to fixing household niggles and booking appointments. However, certain jobs continually slip down the priority list.
Top 20 most-postponed tasks
The nation's top 20 most-postponed to-do list tasks include cleaning the oven, sorting the junk drawer, and defrosting the freezer. Booking a boiler service also features, alongside calling the bank, sewing on a missing button, and fixing a dripping tap.
Consequences of delaying important jobs
Delaying important jobs can have real consequences. More than one in five (21%) say they've experienced a boiler breakdown after delaying or missing a scheduled service. This left 11% without hot water and 10% without heating during winter, according to the British Gas research.
Nathan Martin-Nicholls, technical repair engineer at British Gas, said: "I think most people have a to-do list that never quite gets any shorter. Every time you cross one thing off, another couple of jobs seem to appear. It's understandable that some tasks get pushed back, especially when life is busy. But some jobs are more important than others, and boiler servicing is one that's easy to overlook during the summer."
Top tasks on Brits' to-do lists
- Clean the oven – 41%
- Sort out the junk drawer – 30%
- Defrost the freezer – 28%
- Iron a pile of shirts – 25%
- Unblock a hair-clogged shower or plughole – 24%
- Clean the wheelie bin – 23%
- Take rubbish to the tip – 21%
- Make the GP appointment you've been ignoring – 21%
- Clean the gutters – 20%
- Return an unwanted online purchase – 18%
- Clear out the loft – 17%
- Put together flat-pack furniture – 15%
- Fill in a tax return – 14%
- Pair up a huge pile of odd socks – 14%
- Fix a dripping tap – 13%
- Call the bank – 11%
- Sew a button back on – 11%
- Book a boiler service – 8%
