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

心理学家警告说，数百万计的人们由于生活步调过快，都面临着精神崩溃的危险。

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

在"Virgin Media"网上发布的该项调查共询问了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.

该项调查询问了英国人在诸如吃饭、购物和性生活等日常生活的琐事上面会花多少时间。

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.

研究显示，许多人都把晚饭缩减在10分钟之内吃完，还有好些人只用两分钟便匆忙完成做爱，在下个月发薪日前便花完了上个月的薪水。

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.

调查指出居民的生活节奏具有地域化差异，住在英格兰东北部居民的生活步调是最快的。有趣的是，印象中繁忙的伦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.

令人惊异的调查结果表明，英国人的生活步调比以前任何时候都要快，并且执着于立即能得到的满足感。

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

几乎五分之一的人在领薪水的第一个星期就把整个月的薪水花光，几乎一半的人在下一个发薪日前把钱花光。

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.

调查显示，英格兰东北部的人花钱速度最快。四分之一的人在一周内就把整个月的薪水花光，8%的人在领薪水当天就荷包见底。