Brits take five days to truly unwind

Research has revealed that for most of us it takes nearly five days away from work before we truly relax and unwind.

A recent poll has shown that the average Brit takes four days, eight hours and 24 minutes away from work to feel switched off and relaxed. Our stressful working lives have been blamed for this extended ‘switching off’ period.

Another factor thought to contribute to our inability to wind down is the evolution of technology. With many of us owning devices that connect to the Internet and work emails, it is no surprise we find it hard to switch off from our jobs.

Taking breaks is an important aspect of our well-being, with holidays being an important part of this. Ideally, we should be taking breaks throughout the week and at the weekend too – even 20 minutes being completely shut off from the day’s stress can do wonders for our health.

If you have a late summer holiday booked and are keen to enjoy every minute, take a look at these top tips for unwinding on holiday:

1. Leave work at work

We know it is easier said than done, but try to turn off your phone, laptop, tablet and any other devices connected to work. This is your time – the office will get by without you.

2. Enjoy the sun

If you are going to sunnier climes, ensure you schedule some beach time to give you a boost of vitamin D.

3. Catch up on sleep

Take this time to catch up on sleep and allow yourself the odd lazy day or lie in (we won’t tell, promise).

4. Do an exercise you don’t normally do

For example, beach volleyball or swimming in the sea. Doing a new exercise benefits both your body and mind.

5. Reconnect with friends and family

It can be easy to let work dominate your social calender, so take this time to reconnect with friends and family you haven’t seen in awhile – even if it is via a postcard.

6. Treat yourself to a relaxing therapy

Book yourself a massage, take a meditation class or give aromatherapy a go. There are plenty of therapies out there designed to help you de-stress, unwind and rebalance.

To find out more about therapies to help with stress, please browse our Therapy Topics.

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