Millions of us are in danger of "meltdown" because we race through life at break-neck speed, psychologists have warned.

    心理學家警告說，數百萬計的人們由于生活步調過快，都面臨著精神崩潰的危險。

    The findings, released by Virgin Media, came from an online survey of 1,968 adults.

    在"Virgin Media"網上發布的該項調查共詢問了1,968名成年人。

    The study examined the speed at which Britons complete a range of everyday tasks such as eating, spending money and having sex.

    該項調查詢問了英國人在諸如吃飯、購物和性生活等日常生活的瑣事上面會花多少時間。

    A study revealed that scores of us are bolting down our evening meal in less than ten minutes. Others are hurrying through love-making in just two minutes. Workers are also frittering their monthly wages well before their next payday.

    研究顯示，許多人都把晚飯縮減在10分鐘之內吃完，還有好些人只用兩分鐘便匆忙完成做愛，在下個月發薪日前便花完了上個月的薪水。

    The study also highlighted regional variations, with those in the North East topping the poll as the fastest-living. Interestingly, those in busy London often led the most laid back lives.

    調查指出居民的生活節奏具有地域化差異，住在英格蘭東北部居民的生活步調是最快的。有趣的是，印象中繁忙的倫敦人反而最懂得享受生活。

    The startling results indicate that we are doing things faster than ever before, and demanding instant gratification.

    令人驚異的調查結果表明，英國人的生活步調比以前任何時候都要快，并且執著于立即能得到的滿足感。

    Almost one in five workers spend their entire monthly salary in the first week. And almost half run out of money before pay day.

    幾乎五分之一的人在領薪水的第一個星期就把整個月的薪水花光，幾乎一半的人在下一個發薪日前把錢花光。

    Those in the North-East are the quickest to put their hands into their pockets, according to the research. A quarter will spend their wages within a week of being paid and an astonishing 8 per cent get through the lot on pay day.

    調查顯示，英格蘭東北部的人花錢速度最快。四分之一的人在一周內就把整個月的薪水花光，8%的人在領薪水當天就荷包見底。

    Yorkshire residents are the most frugal, with half claiming their pay lasts until the end of the month.

    住在約克郡的人是最節儉的，那里一半的人表示他們的薪水可以用到最后一天。

    Folk in the North-East also top the list of the nation's fastest lovers. One in six spends less than ten minutes in the throes of passion and 3 per cent spend less than two minutes having sex.

    英格蘭東北部的人連做愛都是最快的。六分之一的人做愛時間不超過10分鐘，3%的人不到兩分鐘就完事。

    In contrast, those from Birmingham spend the longest time having sex, with 14 per cent regularly making love for more than 45 minutes.

    比較而言，伯明翰人做愛時間最長，有14%的人平均花45分鐘享受性愛生活。

    Overall, a third of us spend less than 20 minutes having sex. And in stark contrast to our European neighbours, a fifth of Britons spend ten minutes or less eating a typical evening meal. Almost half finish dinner in less than 15 minutes.

    幾乎有三分之一的英國人做愛時間少于20分鐘。與歐洲鄰里國家形成鮮明對比的是，五分之一的英國人晚飯用餐時間不超過10分鐘，幾乎一半的人少于15分鐘。

    Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James said we are now living at a "crazy pace".

    心理學家蘭霍尼·卡斯特·詹姆斯警告說，英國人生活步調"快得令人瘋狂".

    She said: "The question we have to ask ourselves is, where is this going to end?"

    她說："我們必須問自己一個問題：這么做的最終結果會是怎樣？"

    "In a few years, are we going to see ourselves spending even less time with loved ones and bolting down meals in just a few seconds?

    "幾年后，我們希望看到自己與所愛的人相處時間越來越短？還是要在幾秒鐘內就吃完一頓飯？"

    "There is a real danger people are heading for meltdown unless we slow down and realise that there are only so many hours in the day. If Britons continue to live their lives at such speed, they risk a number of 'potentially serious consequences'."

    "如果不放慢節奏，真正接受一天只有24小時的事實的話，人們總有一天會精神崩潰。如果英國人繼續像這樣子快速生活，他們就會面臨一系列潛在的嚴重后果。"

    "Relationships and family values could begin to suffer if we don't make enough time for our loved ones. And our health is at risk if we don't take steps to manage our time more effectively," she said.

    她說："如果沒有花時間與家人相處，那么家庭關系和伴侶關系將受到危害。如果不采取措施并妥善地運用時間，我們的身體將會吃不消。"