People who go on active holidays find it easier to get back into the swing of things than those who just lounge by the pool, a study has revealed. Researchers found that spending days relaxing on a sun lounger, doing nothing but sipping cocktails and reading books often mean longer is needed to get back up to speed once they return to work.
Beach lovers also struggle thanks to over-indulging on exotic food and enjoying too many late nights in seafront bars, leaving them more likely to oversleep or take longer to complete their work when they get back.
But those who have spent their time away being active by skiing, snowboarding, hiking or diving can expect to be firing on all cylinders sooner, with a fifth claiming to be on top of things within just one day.
And more than half of people who have gone on both active and lazy holidays admitted they return home more refreshed and less sluggish from a break which saw their days filled with some kind of activity.
Felix Rodel – Director, UK and Ireland SWISS, which commissioned the research, said:
”Sitting on a beach or alongside a pool for hours on end sounds like the most relaxing way to spend a holiday.
”But while you may feel like you are recharging your batteries, it seems that you are more likely to get home feeling sluggish and lacking in energy.
”Dozing in the sunshine and chilling out all day can have an effect on your body clock so although you come back from a holiday expecting to feel better for it, it can be a real struggle for a few days as your body gets used to your daily routine again.”
The study of 2,000 Brits found that a staggering 82% find it difficult to get back into their everyday routines after returning from a holiday.
And the average worker reckons it takes them around four days of being back in the office before they feel they have recovered from their break.
But this causes a headache back in the office, with 31% admitting they take longer to complete tasks at work in the days immediately after returning from a holiday.
A quarter have forgotten to do a job altogether, more than one in five oversleep and another 17% end up making mistakes.
Almost one in ten even end up missing important deadlines because their head is still in ‘relax’ mode.
A quarter of workers have even had a colleague or their manager comment on the time it takes them to get over the holiday blues.
Researchers found that six in ten blame their slow uptake on being stuck in the ‘holiday frame of mind’, while 45% say it takes them a while to get used to actually doing things again after spending their time relaxing.
More than two thirds come back from their break feeling sluggish, while 84% have even returned feeling like they still need more time off.
45% of workers struggle so much after being away, they even book extra time off so they have a few days before they need to return to work.
A cheeky one in four even admitted to calling in sick after returning from a holiday to get a few extra days to get back with it.
Felix Rodel added:
”Spending a holiday on your feet and being active, like skiing, not only keeps your body used to activity, but it also keeps your brain sharp and ready to dive back into work after your break.”
”There’s nothing worse than going on holiday and not being able to take everything you want due to baggage restrictions. This is particularly important when it comes to active holidays when you want to use your own skis or golf clubs rather than hire when you get to the resort.”
