Do you stress too much on holiday?
Holidays are supposed to be a time to switch off and get some much needed respite from the stresses back at home; however, it seems that as a nation we are finding it harder and harder to leave work and other pressures behind us when we jet off - the main culprit is our reliance on new technology and smartphone devices.
It’s worrying how many people now find it so hard to switch off on holiday – literally! Down time is essential for recharging the batteries and reducing stress levels
Research by leading last minute holidays firm Latedeals.co.uk, who polled 2000 of their holidaymakers, reveals that 77 per cent of us regularly checked work emails while on holiday this year, and 65 per cent of us even responded to them, and 81 per cent of those who checked emails said that they had accessed them through smartphones.
The research was commissioned to coincide with National Stress Awareness Day. It also questioned people about how they felt after checking emails and whether they actually managed to ‘de-stress’ on holiday.
It was revealed that 89 per cent of adults admitted that they never feel fully switched off and worry about what’s happening at work.
Calum Macdonald at Latedeals.co.uk said: “It’s worrying how many people now find it so hard to switch off on holiday – literally! Down time is essential for recharging the batteries and reducing stress levels.”
Psychologist Jane Sullivan has come up with some advice on how to effectively de-stress from work when on holiday:
1. DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITY
Going on holiday is a good opportunity to delegate and to give people the opportunity to step up. "We often want to believe that we're indispensable," says Sullivan. "But the sign of a good manager is someone who does develop people.
2. PRETEND YOU'RE ABROAD
Even if you're not going out of the country, remember you're still on holiday. "Don't tell people you're staying at home," advises Sullivan. "Lie - invent where you're going. If people know you're at home, they'll think it's fine to get in touch.
3. MANAGE YOUR DEVICES
The hold that your smartphone has over you must be broken on holiday. "People are fearful they're not committed if they switch off," asserts Sullivan. "But replying to emails during time off just makes people think, 'Go away, you're on holiday.'" You don’t get any brownie points for it!
4. STAY CREATIVE
If good ideas start popping into your head, don't shut out work entirely. "You may lie on the beach and think, 'That's the solution to that issue!' That's fine. The point is to allow your mind to have that freedom to rest and find new perspectives.
5. WHEN YOU RETURN….
There will inevitably be a backlog to deal with when you get back – and you need to address this in a sensible, practical way. Get the fire fighting over and done with as quickly as possible, and then try to prioritise in order to ensure that the most pressing concerns are addressed promptly.
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Tagged in Travel travel tips Detox expert Technology Smartphones Travel Advice