Busy mums are struggling to find the time to visit the doctor
Three quarters of mums are struggling to find the time to plough their way through a string of arduous ‘life admin’ tasks, according to a survey.
A poll of 2,000 mothers with children aged 16 and under found the average mum has 20 things on her to do list.
It also emerged a huge 43 per cent haven’t even had time to visit the doctor, due to life ‘getting in the way’.
And a further one in four haven’t got around to booking a smear test because they’ve been too busy.
More than one in four haven’t had the time to switch to a cheaper energy provider, and 43 per cent are still trying to find the time to book a haircut.
And a whopping 49 per cent sometimes don’t even have time to shower as they’re so busy running around after the children.
Tan Kaur, digital pharmacist at Well Pharmacy said: “I have been working in pharmacy for many years and have often heard my customers say that even the simplest tasks can prove difficult when you have children.
“Especially those with babies or toddlers, who can sometimes find hours mysteriously vanish when trying to do something like leave the house.
“Our survey results found that lots of important tasks are unfortunately left on the back burner as parents have so much going on, and their kids come first before looking at their own problems.”
The study also found more than eight in 10 mums admit to putting off life admin like sorting out car insurance or doctor’s visits because they’re too busy.
Twenty-seven per cent haven’t had time to pay off a bill, and a third are still waiting to go to the dentist.
Nearly half confessed they prioritise what their children need above other, more personal matters which need attention.
And four in 10 admitted struggling to balance a busy work and family life, according to the OnePoll.com research, commissioned by Well Pharmacy which has launched a free NHS prescription service with the aim of taking the hassle out of prescriptions.
Mums are normally roused from their slumber at 6:35am, with eight in 10 finding themselves exhausted by the time they finally go to bed at just 9:43pm.
And one in five mums get just 15 to 30 minutes of ‘down time’ in an average day, free to spend however they please.
More than 80 per cent have also felt unwell but chosen to carry on with their normal family routine because they felt they ‘didn’t have time’ to be ill.
The research also found the average Brit is putting off seven pieces of life admin, meaning nobody has a completely clean slate.
Twenty-three per cent are still paying for subscriptions they haven’t found the time to cancel yet, despite being un-needed.
And a quarter have got money or cheques sitting around their home that haven’t found their way to the bank due to a lack of time.
Eight in 10 mums say the health and wellbeing of their children always come first and they therefore rarely think about their own health.
More than six in 10 would rather put up with an illness than take time out of their day to go to the doctors or collect a prescription.
And 61 per cent admit life would be so much easier if they could access everything they needed either online or via their mobile the phone.
Tan added: “Of course, for all of us our family and children should come first when it comes to their wellbeing.
“But these little pieces of life admin – going to the doctor, collecting prescriptions, booking a smear test or paying bills – are just as important when it comes to our lives running smoothly.”
Well Pharmacy’s online service is available on the web and via an IOS app.
THE TOP 25 PIECES OF LIFE ADMIN MUMS ARE PUTTING OFF
1. Fixing something in the house
2. Going to the doctors
3. Having a hair cut
4. Booking an eye test
5. Tending to the garden
6. Doing the ironing
7. Going to the dentist
8. Posting a letter / thank you cards
9. Booking a smear test
10. Paying a bill
11. Switching to a cheaper energy provider
12. Picking up a prescription
13. Shopping for a birthday gift
14. Paying money / cheques into the bank
15. Writing a will
16. Remembering to take medicine
17. Cancelling subscriptions
18. Shopping around for cheaper car insurance
19. Dropping a prescription off at the pharmacy
20. Transferring money
21. Arranging life insurance
22. Booking a holiday
23. Joining the gym
24. Arranging travel insurance for an upcoming holiday
25. Cancelling a gym membership