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Workaholic Brits just can't put the laptop away even on holidayNot only are Brits failing to take all the annual leave they’re due, they’re also struggling to switch off when they do go on holiday, according to a new survey.
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The average holiday taken is just over a week, but three and a half of those precious days are spent worrying about work and unwinding before holidaymakers can truly relax.
A third of the 2,021 adults surveyed by LV= insurance found that a third think about work while on holiday and one in four knuckle down and do some when they’re supposed to be taking a break. And that’s when we get round to taking time off. The survey found that a fifth of Brits don’t take their full entitlement, with an average of seven holiday days going to waste each per year.
Reasons given for being so chained to the office include worries about job security and feeling that their workload is too big to take a break. But actually, we may get more done by taking a proper holiday. The research also found that a quarter of us feel more productive after a holiday and psychologists recommend regular breaks from work to promote better output.
“There is ample evidence that holidays have a positive effect on mood, well-being and health,” said psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson.
"However, as these benefits appear to be mostly short-lived and tend to fade within two to three weeks it is best to take a series of short breaks rather that one long, extended holiday. "Holidaymakers returning to work are healthier, happier and therefore likely to be more productive.”
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