
Over a third of respondents to a survey by the Post Office said they had taken up to two years to choose a policy.
The reasons for the delay include feeling weighed down by their lists, which affected two-thirds of Brits, while half feel too overwhelmed by life admin tasks.
Over a third did not believe life insurance was a priority for them or that it was a necessity.
Meanwhile, seven in 10 also find paperwork intimidating, a sentiment that is most commonly held among the Gen Z cohort of 16-24-year-olds, with 87% sharing that feeling.
With new year’s resolutions barely a week old, the study found Brits didn’t think they had enough time to go about completing certain life admin like paying bills, choosing an insurance provider or completing a tax return – which over five million taxpayers are yet to do.

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On average, Brits take over a month before completing a job they’ve been meaning to do, leading to more than two-fifths wanting a personal assistant to assist them with completing life admin if they could afford it.
The cost of not having life insurance can be financially damaging.
Last year, the basic cost of the premature death of a parent came to an average of £195,000, according to separate research from Beagle Street. This rose to £261,755 for Londoners.
Peace of mind and security for loved ones
Paul Paddock, director of pricing and protection products at the Post Office, said: “Although buying life insurance may seem daunting, or others may be asking themselves, ‘why do I need life insurance?’, the benefits of life insurance and getting it ticked off your list include peace of mind and financial security for your loved ones.”
Productivity coach Juliet Landau-Pope added: “When we complete a task that has been on our minds for a while, we experience what is known as the ‘progress principle’, where the brain releases dopamine into our systems, which then reinforces positive behaviours and boosts motivation. It’s nature’s own in-built reward system for getting your life admin sorted.”
Landau-Pope also shared five tips for boosting your productivity when it comes to completing life admin.
Tips to tackle to-do lists
1. Break tasks down into small, manageable tasks
Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Breaking them into very small steps and identifying the very first action can make it easier to get started.
2. Use the two-minute rule
Small wins train your brain to associate action with reward. If a task takes fewer than two minutes, challenge yourself to do it immediately.
3. Practice the Pomodoro method
Aim to tackle your to-do list in short bursts: try to focus for 25-minute intervals, followed by five-minute breaks, to make tedious tasks less daunting.
4. Make yourself accountable
Sharing intentions with someone else makes it more likely that you’ll get things done. Tell a trusted friend or relative what you will do and when you will do it.
5. Aim for progress, not perfection
Procrastination and perfectionism often go hand in hand. If you’re struggling to start or finish a task, consider letting go of perfectionism. Why aim for perfect when excellent will do?
The Post Office £30 Winter Warmer cashback offer, which was released on 30 December 2024, offers Post Office Life Insurance and Post Office Over 50s Life Cover customers £30 cashback to warm their winter.
For further guidance on why to take out life insurance, or the Post Office £30 Winter Warmer offer, you can check out this information here.