Time lost to slow computers may be a barrier to better health

BOISE, USA: The start of a new year often provides inspiration for making positive life changes, but the best intentions often succumb to busy schedules and excuses.

New research commissioned by Crucial.com reveals a surprising way to gain more time for improving one's personal health: fix a slow computer.

The nationwide survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Crucial.com in October 2013, revealed that U.S. adults who think they waste any time waste an average of 16 minutes per day waiting for their computer to load or boot up. Equating to two hours each week and four days per year lost to the wiles of a slow computer, it's no surprise that 66 per cent of Americans say that waiting for a system they know should be faster is one of their top frustrations.

"Unquestionably, one of the biggest barriers to managing personal health is a lack of available time in our busy days. But, even 20 minutes of physical activity a day can have tremendous benefits. It's astounding to think about the time wasted over the course of a day, week, month and year, as we wait on a machine that should make our lives easier and more efficient," said Kathy Kaehler, author, celebrity trainer and fitness/lifestyle expert.

When asked how people would choose to spend extra time in their day, 31 per cent of US adults said they would exercise more and 26 per cent said they would catch up on sleep. Lack of time is also a barrier to healthy eating, as 37 per cent said they would like to plan their meals and/or cook more, but they usually grab something fast and often unhealthy as they don't have enough time - with 61 per cent of men aged 18-34 agreeing with this.

"A slow computer is not only wasting valuable time that could be put towards improved health, but it is also a source of immense frustration and constant stress, two things that are never good for anyone's health," added Kaehler.

Still, despite not being able to find the time to exercise, nearly half (45 per cent) of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 admit that waiting for a slow computer leaves them feeling more "drained" than a hard workout.

"If you've been using a computer regularly for the last decade, you might have wasted more than an entire month of time waiting for your computer to boot up, open programs, shut down, or perform tasks that are normally quick and simple," says Roddy McLean, marketing director at Crucial.com.

"But, just as our personal health changes as we age, computers also slow down and struggle with some tasks as they get older. Unresponsiveness, low memory warnings, display problems, trouble starting and system crashes are not only typical causes of user frustration and stress, but are also warning signs that a computer's health is ailing and might need rejuvenation in the form of a memory upgrade," added McLean.