Stress in the city
AFTER a festive break and a tough first week back on the job, a new survey has revealed that the majority of workers in Scotland consider themselves stressed, Glasgow being joint third most stressed city in the UK with 75% saying that they lead a demanding life.
Aberdeen also suffers high levels of stress with 65% of employees saying they suffer from the anxieties of working life according to the survey, commissioned by holiday company Keycamp. Edinburgh is the most chilled out city in Scotland despite 56% of workers still feeling under pressure.
For many Scots the traditional nine to five is a thing of the past. In Edinburgh 60% of those questioned confessed to giving into the pressure of working long hours and in Glasgow 40% of workers are so busy that they can only spend ten hours or less with their family during the working week.
Now more than ever it seems employees deserve a holiday, which still appears to be the best way to alleviate the anxieties caused by working life. In Aberdeen 43% of those asked confess that their holiday is the only time of year they feel relaxed, with a quarter of workers in Edinburgh agreeing that a break is essential to wind down.
But when stressed workers fail to make the necessary transition between work mode and the freedom of time off there is a potential for ‘lost’ holidays.
This was shown as the survey also revealed that while holidays ultimately make us feel more chilled out, those first few days of a break and even weekends, when workers also take their foot off the pedal, are the times when people are more likely to succumb to minor ailments and aches.
In Aberdeen up to 43% report suffering ‘leisure sickness’ before their holiday properly ‘kicks in’ – the second highest total in the UK - a figure that is particularly high given that just 3% of our Dutch counterparts suffer similar side effects.
In Glasgow a third of people find they suffer from leisure sickness alongside a quarter of people questioned in Edinburgh.
January 9 was expected to be the most popular day to book a break, according to the holiday industry statistics, as Scots look for a cure for the January blues following their first full week back at work.
Leading psychologist Mo Shapiro has advice for those booking a break. She said: “The long-hours culture is starting to have a real negative impact on our leisure time here in Britain and after giving so much to our employers during the rest of the year, we need to work hard to reclaim our holidays and give time to ourselves.
“Tempting as it is to book a holiday where you can just flop down as soon as you arrive, you will get more from your time off by choosing a break that offers more stimulation. Gentle exercise or exploring your new surroundings is the perfect antidote to leisure sickness as it encourages you not to stop altogether but to relax yourself in to the break.”
The Keycamp poll backs this up with 35% claiming their stress is cured by a long walk. A third of us chill out over a great meal and a glass of wine and over 20% find exercise the best way to relax. A good book (38%), time with the kids (26%) and a pamper session (17%) also ranked highly as popular stress busters.
Dave McKenna, head of sales and marketing at Keycamp, said: “Never has the phrase ‘work hard, play hard’ had more resonance. Brits are working longer hours than ever before and need to make sure that they’re getting the most from their time off.
“Last year we seemed to be inundated with calls and emails at the end of the first week back at work. It has to be an important factor for the ‘battery worker’, to land a great holiday so early, plus it gives them something to look forward to and enough time to find some great activities to do while they’re away.”
Downloadable hints and tips on how to switch off while away and avoid the dreaded leisure sickness are available at www.keycamp.co.uk/relaxedholiday.htm
