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LIFE LONG WAITING

Brits will spend the equivalent of almost TWO years of their life just waiting, according to a new survey

The research looks into how long we spend aimlessly hanging around, from waiting for delayed flights to waiting for our phones to charge.

THE average Brit will spend the equivalent of nearly two YEARS of their life…just waiting, according to a new survey.

Researchers took an in depth look into how long us Brits spend aimlessly hanging around, with waiting in supermarket queues, delayed flights and waiting impatiently for phones to charge among the main time wasters.

 Just by queuing in a supermarket, we'll cost us 25 days
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Just by queuing in a supermarket, we'll cost us 25 daysCredit: Getty - Contributor
 The research suggest that we'll wait a total of 37 days in our lifetime waiting for our phones to charge
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The research suggest that we'll wait a total of 37 days in our lifetime waiting for our phones to chargeCredit: Getty - Contributor

The average Brit will spend TEN HOURS a year waiting for laptops and computers to load and 45 minutes every month will be spent impatiently waiting for video buffering to stop, according to the study by TalkTalk who have coined the term ‘load rage’.

The research found 11 minutes a week will be spent waiting for our phones to update and the equivalent of nine hours a year will be spent twiddling our thumbs while TV and films painstakingly download.

Nearly seven in 10 of the adults polled said they seem to spend a lot of their time aimlessly waiting around.

Aside from internet induced ‘load rage’, the study also revealed sitting in traffic, waiting in for deliveries to arrive and eagerly waiting for food to be served in restaurants were among the things we got fed up of waiting for.

And the typical adult complains in a shop, restaurant, doctor’s surgery or on the phone NINE times a month about how long something is taking.

The research showed that 14 percent of Brits spent so long hanging around they have shouted at a shop assistant and 23 percent have cried in frustration that they were having to wait so long.

 We'll end up waiting a further 30 days for our washing machines to finish their cycle
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We'll end up waiting a further 30 days for our washing machines to finish their cycleCredit: Alamy

And the typical adult will dedicate 48 minutes of every month waiting for the bus to pull up, the poll of 1,500 Brits found.

The data also revealed we spend 38 days of our life waiting for parcels and goods to be delivered to our house, with a further 18 days spent queuing in the post office.

Laurent Kretzschmar, Head of Product at TalkTalk said: “We all lead increasingly busy lives and our time is valuable.

 Waiting for food in a restaurant cost 26 days of our life
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Waiting for food in a restaurant cost 26 days of our lifeCredit: Alamy

“Although technology and connectivity have accelerated so many aspects of our lives, with countless devices all connecting to our internet, many busy households have outgrown standard broadband.

“While a faster internet connection won’t speed up post office queues, fibre broadband gives you the speed and the bandwidth you need to stream, download, browse and upload at the same time without slowing your experience, giving you some precious time back.”

A staggering 94 percent of respondents were in agreement that modern life has made us impatient and that we have come to expect things instantly.

In addition to that, 95 percent said they think it would do their health the world of good if they relaxed and let things happen when they happen.

Ten of the most common waited for things

Phone to charge - 37 days over a lifetime

Sitting in traffic - 37 days over a lifetime

Deliveries to arrive - 37 days over a lifetime

The washing machine to finish - 30 days over a lifetime

Computer or device to load - 27 days over a lifetime

Your partner to get ready - 27 days over a lifetime

Food in restaurants - 26 days over a lifetime

Being on hold - 26 days  over a lifetime

The oven to heat up - 26 days over a lifetime

Supermarket queue - 25 days over a lifetime