Love the one you're with

Addicitions rule our everyday lives, but some are a little more subtle than others. Whether it's addiction to love, money, food, exercise or even our latest gadget, it may lose you more than just your spare change.

At Busy Girls HQ, we've examined some of today's modern lifestyle addictions to see whether our Busy Girls love our Blackberrys more than our men...

T'Internet

Is your computer on 24/7? Do you break out in a sweat if you have to go 20 minutes without checking your inbox? Jane from Warrington does "I'm never away from the laptop for more than a few minutes, even when I pop to the loo I quickly check my emails!" Like Jane, you may be loving your computer a little more than you should - did you know clinics are already starting to open up to treat this addiction, which can also deprive sufferers of sleep & lead to eye & back problems. Book us in!

Shopping

There's nothing wrong with a bit of retail therapy, as long as you're not lying about the price of things you've bought or debts you have accrued. "He always says I spend too much, so now I don't even show him what I've bought" says Anna of Cheadle. If you can be straight with your man then you'll feel so much better about your shiny purchases. But, if you don't go too mad & he still doesn't understand, don't expect him to be leaping off the chair in adulation of your new garbs, keep the pleasure for yourself.

Mobile Baby

If you can type a text faster than the speed of light, find that you are constantly on the phone or feel naked if you leave the house without your mobile, you could be suffering from 'mobile phone dependence syndrome'.

We love this term - it's been coined in China, the country with the world's largest population of mobile phone users. Apparently, symptoms include irritability if you are unable to use your phone & anger if no-one calls you for any period of time. It does make us laugh, but in all seriousness, try to switch off & relax at times - after all, what did people do before mobiles were invented?

Work it

If you're pressured at work, it's likely you have an unhealthy attachment to the office, so if you find that you work late most nights & can't get work out of your head even when you are at home, then it is time for you to restore your work/life balance. "I can't seem to get the balance right, I'm either working like a trojan or lying on the sofa comatose" says Fiona from Bramhall.

Force yourself to make time for other activities every day, get yourself to the gym or out for a walk & make sure you don't neglect your friends. Ignoring the problem will only lead to extra stress, dwindling love life & a distinct lack of mates!

Exercise

Most of us find the concept of being addicted to exercise totally impossible - however doing too much can damage your immune system & leave you feeling tired. Jen says "I know it sounds mad, but I feel really guilty if I miss a session". If you feel like Jen or exercise while ill or injured listen to your body & give it a rest - you don't need to look like a female body-builder to be healthy, you know (plus your man / man-to-be may feel a bit threatened if you try to beat him in an arm restle!).

Gamble it away

Manchester is a hive of gambling action these days, with more & more casinos threatening to open up. Not to mention the massive increase in online gambling sites. Be careful - gambling for a bit of fun is one thing, but getting into it is a mugs game. You can't make yourself rich from betting & no number of local supercasinos will ever change that.

So Busy Girl, we may not be sat smoking 20 Marlboros with a bottle of Scotch & 30 packets of cheese & onion but we still have our vices. Our advice to you (which we are trying to take ourselves too!) is moderation. If you find yourself getting in a little too deep, give yourself a day off & regroup - you'll feel better for the break.

See you soon, Lucy x (Life Coach) Busy Girls Guide, Manchester & Cheshire