It takes the average Brit eight days and 22 hours to get back into the swing of work after a holiday, as a study revealed being forced to set the alarm clock, dealing with a mountain of washing and tackling the morning commute make it hard to get back up to speed.
Three quarters of those polled admitted to suffering from post-holiday blues, with six in ten regularly starting sentences with “this time last week we’d have been…”
Additionally seven out of ten of us said it took them over two weeks to conquer the workload they found waiting for them when they returned to the office.
More than one in two said they missed the food and drink they enjoyed while they were away.
The research was commissioned by Tribute, Cornwall’s best-loved ale, to mark the launch of its new online shop.
A spokesman for Tribute Pale Ale said:
“It can be hard having to return to normality after the holidays and it clearly plays on our mind for quite some time afterwards.
“But if someone is suffering a bit from post-holiday blues and still thinking back to it nine days afterwards then that’s at least a sign that they had a great time.
“It’s natural to feel a little downbeat when faced with the old routine once more but anything you can do to reminisce or re-live the holiday experiences will help and of course looking ahead to the next one can ease the sadness.”
Missing holiday views emerged as a key contributor to post-summer blues, with Brits forced to swap sunny beaches, hilly scenery or sea views for a look at the enormous ironing pile that greets them.
A hankering for the local food and drink of their holiday destination was one of the things four in ten people missed most.
Over a third enjoyed the alcoholic tipple they drank while away before seeking out more in their supermarkets and local pubs, while one in seven Brits misses having the freedom of being able to relax with a drink whenever they like.
More than half the study tries to cling to that holiday feeling a little bit longer after returning from holiday – mostly by scrolling through masses of holiday photos and many eat or drink something they’ve had while away to keep the memories alive.
The survey also found:
- The blues are at their strongest for 8 days and 22 hours;
- It takes 16 days until Brits are completely ‘over’ their holiday – often longer than the duration of the holiday itself.
It’s also hard to return to form in the workplace after a break and the average person feels they aren’t back to their best in terms of work performance until the third working day after a holiday.
Many take steps to combat the ‘back to reality’ feeling; six in ten Brits have already put thought into their summer holiday for next year.
The Tribute spokesman added:
“It can be a slightly gloomy time of year with the summer holiday season passing us by but it’s hopefully because people have had a good time and created some strong memories.
“Of course we’d all love to spend much more time on holiday and much less in the midst of our day-to-day routines.
“Unfortunately that’s not really an option for most of us, so it’s about topping up with little treats and things to keep us upbeat until the next one.”
TOP 10 REASONS FOR POST-HOLIDAY BLUES
1. Having to catch up on washing
2. Alarm clocks
3. No lie-ins
4. Waking up without the views I had on holiday
5. Commuting traffic
6. Cooking for yourself again
7. Looking at the ironing pile
8. Sifting through work emails
9. Watching the tan slowly fade
10. Doing the weekly shop
© Stuartmiles | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos
