The last time we checked, the length of a full day was 24 hours. But a new study has discovered that actually, to complete all the work, play and activities on the average person's list, you need 27 hours. Problem? You bet.
It explains why we feel so stressed out - we're not completing the tasks we set ourselves on a daily basis and often feel like there isn't enough time to get the day done. Apparently 61% of us would like to be more productive.
Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, a UCL expert in human behavior has worked with Direct Line to act as a 'director of achievement', offering quick tips to help us balance our work/life commitments.
It may seem counter-intuitive, to be more productive by actually taking a break, but Dr Chamorro-Premuzic believes that it helps. He isn't alone. Dr Alejandro Lleras, psychology professor from the University of Illinois says: “Constant stimulation is registered by our brains as unimportant, to the point that the brain erases it from our awareness." Meaning, that you might think staring at the same thing or sitting in front of your desk is productive, but it actually isn't because you zone out and stop paying attention.
Here are 10 brilliant tips from Dr Chamorro-Premuzic on how to keep motivated and focussed throughout the day:
Luke Reid, 24 from London tested the advice, saying: "I often find it difficult to focus on one task alone and end up trying to do several things at once. By actually stopping and allowing myself five minutes on Twitter, or a quick 10 minute walk around the park at lunch it boosted my mood and made the day easier to digest – so I could keep progressing without becoming overwhelmed."