In the midst of a busy week at work, you suddenly remember, it’s your sister's birthday, and you haven't bought her anything. You’re stuck for ideas, and unlikely to get away from your desk until late. Enter Urb It – a delivery service that will send luxe gifts for you in a mere 60 minutes.

With time in short supply, people want to spend it in the best way – and that often doesn’t involve doing household chores. Canvas8 spoke with Ashley Whillans, assistant professor at Harvard Business School, to learn why outsourcing certain tasks leads to greater happiness.

Too busy, tired or achy to get your own lunch? For a fee, Londoners can now use Henchman to have someone bring whatever they want to wherever they are. But will this app become a vital part of their lives, or is it just a novelty for those too hungover to leave their bed on a Sunday morning?

With time in short supply, Gen Yers are wary of wasting it – they’d rather spend it socialising than vacuuming the hallway. Enter Nord House, a Scandinavian-inspired apartment block in Melbourne, Australia, that comes with a full-time lifestyle manager to do all the dirty work.