No one dies wishing he'd spent more time at the office

The sensible, grown-up approach to life suggests that we'll be better off in the future if we spend our present working hard, saving money and choosing salad instead of chips for lunch.

But guess what? We won't be happier, says an article in this month's Harvard Business Review.

"Our research shows that forgoing indulgences today can feed strong regrets later and that near-term regrets about self indulgence dramatically fade with time," write the authors. "Over time, those who had indulged felt less and less guilty about their choices whereas those who had been dutiful experienced a growing sense of having missed out on the pleasures of life."

In other words, if I miss this afternoon's deadline because I go to the beach, I'll feel terrible about it tomorrow but if I skip the swim I'll regret it when I am 70. Hmm. Right, see you tomorrow. Well, unless it's sunny again.