Monday has been classed as the least productive day of the week by half of Brits, with six out of 10 admitting to feeling anxiety and stress during the weekend in anticipation of the beginning of the work week.
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The study, carried out by Westin Hotels & Resorts highlights a growing need amongst Brits for more leisure time and opportunities to unwind and disconnect over the weekend.
The research, which looked at how technology and work obligations have impacted on Brit’s personal lives, showed that more than a third of workers say they feel tired at the start of the working week, while 5 out of 10 have had their health and well-being negatively impacted by work due to lack of exercise, sleep and relaxation.
Sue Firth, Occupational Psychologist at the London Stress Clinic, said: “People need the weekend to relax and unwind from the stresses of work, so that they come back on Monday full of energy. Many of us feel obligated to answer emails at home when we should be able to rest, or make ourselves available for work discussions that could really wait until after the weekend.
“Over time this is going to affect a person’s well-being, leaving them tired and moody which in turn can affect personal relationships. It can also make us feel resentful about work and less likely to contribute when we are in the office. I tell clients to pick out a landmark a short distance from home and use that as a cutoff point, so that when you go past it, you mentally leave work behind ready to enjoy home time. If you have to work at home, limit the number of evenings you’ll do this in a week and stop working after 9pm to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.”
Half of Brits are spending up to three hours working on the weekend answering emails or calls and six out of ten say that their personal life has been negatively affected by work.
More than a third have quit, or considered quitting, a job because it had a negative impact on their relationships and more than a quarter have been in the middle of a ‘romantically special moment’ with a partner, when work interfered and ruined the moment.
Sue shares some of her top tips on how to relax and unwind from work:
Pick out a landmark at short distance from home and practice using it to act as a cut-off point so that when you go past it, you mentally leave work behind ready to enjoy home time
Make Monday better: Write a list before leaving the office on Fridays, or on the commute home of everything you need to do on Monday so you can really relax on the weekend. Aim to tackle the biggest priority first thing in the morning when you get in
Limit the time you spend on your laptop or PC at home, even if you’re looking on the internet for leisure. Give your mobile to a loved one or housemate after 9pm so you’re not tempted to check messages and emails
If you really need to work during a weekend getaway, try to stay at a hotel where you can get a good, nutritious meal
Make sure to take a break – avoid eating and working at the same time, get up and stretch and if there are other people at home, have a chat with them about non-work related topics
Listen to your body: Whether it’s telling you to jump out of bed and go for a run or have a long lie in, pay attention. If you’re away from home for business or pleasure, choose accommodation where you know the beds are comfortable and you’ll be able to get some exercise.