Tired women suffer 'phone text stress'

Emails and text messages were supposed to make life simpler and less stressful.

But new technologies are the blight of modern women's daily lives.

Research today reveals that for most British working women, "information overload" is a major cause of stress. More than half - 59 per cent - say being swamped by unnecessary information, including text messages, voicemail and emails, hampers their ability to run their lives as they wish.

More than 1,000 women aged 18 and above were questioned about their work and leisure habits. Two thirds - 67 per cent - claim they find it hard to "switch off " and relax. And 69 per cent have made a resolution to remedy the situation in 2005 - marking a trend toward what experts are calling "life simplification".

Consumer planning manager Mimi Fakhri said: "Life simplification will become increasingly important in the years ahead."

Tips given for a simpler life included turning off your mobile phone at specific times and prioritising your friends with fewer but firmer plans. Women are advised not to struggle into work when ill but to stay at home and rest.

Other ideas included an all-in-one managed bank account, taking all holiday entitlement every year and using organisational short-cuts at home - such as boxes for post, keys and bills.

The survey was conducted by drinks company Baileys.