Hi-tech gadgets such as mobile phones, Blackberries, PDAs and laptops are causing one in three people (36 per cent) to feel busier than ever before, according to research from Friends Provident.
Four in ten men are being made busier by the technology they rely on, compared to a third of women, the report claims.
Over-reliance on gadgets has also helped to contribute to the death of the weekend, with 43 per cent of people feeling as busy at weekends as they do during the week. Being constantly contactable means people are always on duty, both in their professional and personal life.
The Pressed for Time report, undertaken by Consumer Analysis Group, found that in their reluctance to hit the off button on their gadgets, a third of the nation (34 per cent) actually believes it has become fashionable to be busy. Bustling Britain also shows no signs of slowing down, with one in two people (48 per cent) saying they are busier now than they ever were five years ago and have less time to relax.
