We feel that taking a holiday is an important part of life. We’re lucky enough to jet off from time to time, so we know the benefits it can have on our general wellbeing. That’s why we recently carried out research, speaking to 2,000 Brits, half of whom had been on holiday in the last 12 months and half who hadn’t. This research allowed us to see the value of taking a holiday at least once a year.
The lure of the sun, sea and sand with complete escape from the stresses of home came out as the most beneficial holiday. 39% of respondents stated they felt there were more benefits from a holiday abroad than staying at home in the UK, which only 14% of people rated as more beneficial. Here’s a look at the benefits a holiday can have on your body, mind and work.
Going on Holiday is Good for your Body
One of the most interesting results from our survey was the comparison between those who have and haven’t holidayed in the last 12 months when compared over several wellness factors. We asked respondents to rate themselves on different factors relating to wellbeing and compared the results of those who said they felt ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
According to the results, the effects of time spent unwinding by the pool and soaking up vitamin D from the sun are clearly very positive. Of those who had been on holiday in the last 12 months, 43% said their overall health was good, this is compared to a much lower 29% of those who hadn’t.
Further to this, those who had been away in the last year showed significantly higher levels of energy and fitness. 32% of people who had been away recently felt their energy levels were good, this is compared to 22% of people who hadn’t had a break in that period. Similarly, 32% who’d been on holiday said their fitness levels were good, compared to only 23% who hadn’t.
Despite a holiday only being a temporary break from the norm, the effects clearly make a difference long-term. 38% of our respondents who had been on holiday in the last year said they were getting good quality sleep, just 25% of those who hadn’t been away could say the same.
Taking an annual holiday also helps relieve stress, with 36% of people who’d been away saying they had low levels of stress. Unfortunately for those who haven’t been away, they’re more likely to suffer from stress, with only 26% reporting low levels.
Dr Luke James, UK Insurance Medical Director at Bupa, commented on the findings, “Going on holiday can be good for your health. Too much stress can negatively impact your physical health; taking a holiday can have restorative health effects by removing you from the day-to-day stresses from your regular routine. Furthermore, research has shown that taking holidays can even help to prolong your life.
For some, holidays are the perfect time to catch up on sleep. Keeping a clear schedule whilst you’re away and not setting your daily alarm clock can help you get all the uninterrupted sleep you need and make sure you’re not expending any unnecessary energy.
Taking part in holiday activities – like walking, surfing, climbing, jogging, swimming and cycling – may help to improve your fitness levels whilst you’re away, depending on the speed and intensity of the exercise.”
Taking a Break is Good for the Mind
Considering the fast pace of everyday life, it’s no wonder that taking care of our mental health is becoming an even bigger issue. Taking some time out of work to switch off our minds on holiday could play a key role in maintaining good mental health.
Our study revealed that half (48%) of those surveyed who’d holidayed in the last 12 months reported that they felt happy in their everyday lives, this compared to only 33% of those who’d not been on holiday.
The research also showed a similar pattern when it comes to respondent’s mental health. 46% of people who’d been away in the last year said they felt their mental health was good. Those who haven’t been away didn’t feel quite so positive, with only 34% saying their mental health was good. There was a similar difference when looking at anxiety levels, with 37% of those who’d holidayed saying they had low levels of anxiety, compared to 26% of those who haven’t.
Finally, we looked at the effects an annual holiday could have on a relationship, finding that getting away and soaking up some sun has real benefits. Over half (53%) of those who’d been away said they felt positive in their relationship, with only 39% of those who hadn’t saying the same.
Calvin Benton, Co-Founder of message-based therapy app Spill, provides further insight: “We’re dealing with an unprecedented level of stimulus in our daily lives whilst feeling the pressure to be productive at work, attentive at home and fun with our friends – all exacerbated by the magnifying glass of social media.
“According to a survey by the Mental Health Foundation in 2017, 74% of adults were so stressed or anxious at some point last year that they ‘felt like they couldn’t cope’. It’s more important now than ever to take proper holidays: it’s when we have a chance to reset our circadian rhythm, which hugely influences our hormone production and mood. It helps us clear our heads so that we can come back to work ready to be creative and productive. Taking a holiday deals with the symptoms of stress and anxiety.”
A Holiday Positively Affects Work Performance
We asked respondents to answer some work-related questions, giving insight into the importance of holidays within the workplace. The new research has shown there were several points where workers who had been on holiday felt more positive than those who haven’t been away.
45% of people who have been on a recent holiday said they had a better work-life balance, compared to 30% who hadn’t.
We’ve also proven that holidays have a great benefit on motivation within the workplace, with 39% of people who’d been on holiday rating their everyday motivation as good or very good, this is compared to less than a quarter (24%) of those who hadn’t been on holiday. The same can be said for productivity, which 43% of those who’d been on holiday rated as good, compared to 28% who hadn’t.
Taking time away from work has also shown to have positive effects on the careers of our respondents. 37% said they’d felt more positive about their career after taking a holiday in the last year, whereas on 22% of those who hadn’t been away felt the same positivity. This career motivation could be linked with an increase in finances, 41% of those who’d holidayed reported having good finances, with only 26% of those who hadn’t saying the same.
Darren Yap, founder of Wimble Wellness, specialists in practical mindfulness training to reduce workplace stress, said about the results: “When you take time out from work, especially for a holiday, your mind takes a proverbial breather. I find that when I take time out, even for 20 minutes to do some exercise or practice mindfulness, it has a refreshing effect on the brain and allows me to focus better when I’m back at my desk. Going on holiday will only result in wider-reaching benefits.”
British Workers Prioritise Holiday
As part of the survey, we asked respondents to tell us what factors they felt were most important when looking for a new employer. From this, we were able to ascertain the top ten most important things to UK workers.
Top 10 most important things to UK workers:
1. Salary – 96%
2. Holiday Allowance/Annual Pay Rises – 91%
3. Pension – 89%
4. Learning and Training – 84%
5. Flexible Working Hours – 81%
6. Opportunities for Promotion – 78%
7. Extra Days Holiday with Time of Service – 74%
8. Health Insurance – 61%
9. Perinatal Leave Packages – 55%
10. Ability to Buy Extra Holiday – 44%
As the results clearly show, holiday allowance is an extremely important factor for employers and ranks as more important than the likes of pension and opportunities for promotion. The fact that holiday allowance comes alongside annual pay rises and second only to salary shows that employers must focus on this area in order to attract the best staff.
To support the findings of the research, we compared the minimum holiday allowance of the top ten countries in the World Happiness Index. This correlated with our study, showing that nations with a higher minimum allowance are higher placed. Of the top ten, eight nations had a higher minimum allowance than the EU minimum of 20 days.
Position in World Happiness Index | Country | Minimum Allowance | Public Holidays | Total Holiday Allowance |
1 | Finland | 25 | 11 | 36 |
2 | Denmark | 25 | 11 | 36 |
3 | Norway | 25 | 10 | 35 |
4 | Iceland | 24 | 12 | 36 |
5 | Netherlands | 20 | 8 | 28 |
6 | Switzerland | 20 | 7 | 27 |
7 | Sweden | 25 | 9 | 34 |
8 | Austria | 25 | 13 | 38 |
9 | Luxembourg | Private Sector: 26 Public Sector: 32 Aged 50-54: 34 Over 55: 36 | 11 | 37 43 45 47 |
10 | UK | 20 | 8 | 28 |
Lowest | Turkey | 12 | 14.5 | 26.5 |
Methodology
- The survey research in this study is accredited by the Market Research Society and meets ESOMAR guidelines on opinion polls and published surveys
- Full survey results are available for journalists on request
Why choose eShores?
One to One Service
Our experienced personal travel consultants will ensure you find the most suitable holiday, whilst taking care of every last detail. Everything from start to finish will be effortless.
100% Tailor Made
We can use any hotel, in any destination, so we will craft an itinerary to suit your exact needs. Also, as we can provide any itinerary, the only holiday we'll offer, is the one that's right for you.
Fully Protected
Our ATOL bonding provides you with the financial protection you need and as a member of the Travel Trust Association, you'll have 100% financial protection. Covering you for any eventuality.
Competitive Pricing
As a tour operator & travel agent, we'll search the market to ensure that we find you the best price. Also as an online business, we can ensure our prices are as competitive as possible.
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Sarena
Great company to book a holiday with got everything I asked for. Will definitely book through Eshores again.
Posted 1 day ago -
Alison
The best travel agent I have ever dealt with. Just provide your ideal itinerary and they research to provide the best. Can't recommend Ross or eShores more.
Posted 1 day ago -
Anonymous
I found the service from eShores very professional and the itinerary we finally agreed on was exactly what I wanted. The quote was completed promptly and everything was clearly priced and very good value.
Posted 1 day ago -
Anonymous
We've just booked a tailor made holiday to India and Laura couldn't have been more patient or helpful. We believe we have the perfect trip to look forward to! Thank you Laura
Posted 2 days ago -
Janice
Very helpful gave my details and what kind of holiday I wanted Andy called me back not long afterwards with just what I wanted well done
Posted 2 days ago -
Jeanette
Fantastic company to deal with, I go to Dave Felton everytime I want to book a holiday and have recommended him to all of our family and friends. He is super efficient, really knowlegable, helpful and always manages to arrange fantastic holidays for us. Our recent trip to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam was absolutely superb - We have just planned our next big trip to Sri Lanka - Thanks for all your help Dave:-)
Posted 5 days ago -
LisaMarie
Great service as usual.
Posted 5 days ago -
Robert
First time dealing with eShores, they came highly recommended. I was amazed how quickly my query was dealt with. They came back with a very competitive offer which I accepted. I found them to be very professional and knowledgeable, and won’t hesitate to use them again.
Posted 5 days ago -
Ian
So friendly, quick and professional. We love our bespoke holiday to Morocco. Changing the quote four times was no problem to Rob. He made the changes speedily and came up with several recommendations that we loved. We recommend eshore to all our friends for their hassle free service and delivery of a special holiday to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. Thank you Rob and the team x
Posted 6 days ago -
KarenChristian
Michelle was so helpful sorting out our holiday to Canada. Answering my many questions and requests. Nothing was too much trouble.
Posted 6 days ago