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Take more holidays says health experts

Christmas already seems a distant memory for many, as new research out today reveals that over 4 in 5 (83 percent) British workers feel they already need a holiday. Yet despite the multitude of benefits taking a holiday brings 40 percent don’t take the time off work. Comment from Dr Christian Jessen.
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Christmas already seems a distant memory for many, as new research out today reveals that over 4 in 5 (83 percent) British workers feel they already need a holiday. Yet despite the multitude of benefits taking a holiday brings 40 percent don’t take the time off work. Comment from Dr Christian Jessen.

With 137 million sick days taken annually*, online travel firm ebookers.com has enlisted a group of experts including TV’s Dr Christian Jessen to prescribe free holidays to help improve the nation’s health, happiness and productivity. Nearly a third of respondents felt a holiday helped with a health issue whilst 1 in 4 said a break brought them closer to loved ones and nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) had a healthier lifestyle after a trip. Over 30 percent (31 percent) stated going on holiday made them more productive at work with 1 in 10 even confessing a trip improved their sex life.

Dr Christian Jessen comments ‘I tell my patients that there are three basic pillars of health: diet, exercise and meditation. By meditation I mean rest periods and downtime, including sleep. This third pillar should really be the easiest, and certainly the most welcome, and yet so often gets forgotten altogether. Your rest and recovery time is so important to your health; you may be doing nothing, but your body and brain are busy repairing, collating, consolidating, refreshing and restoring so you are raring to go when next called to action. If you don’t give yourself a break, the healthy eating and exercise become almost impossible to maintain.’

Business expert and career confidence coach Sherry Bevan added: “A ‘proper’ break boosts your productivity and your creativity. It’s that opportunity  to ‘declutter’ your brain and relax. You make more effective decisions when you’re back at work which has got to be good for your career and for business. Nowadays, it’s so easy to stay in touch with email and work remotely, but if you keep on responding to emails when you’re away, your team will never learn to cope without you. It keeps you on the fast track to burnout. And nobody wants that.”

Psychologist Dr. Geoff Rolls continued: “Mental disengagement from work is important and holidays help to provide a buffer between job demands and psychological ill-health. Research suggests we get on better with our workmates after holiday, we are more willing to help others, we find work much easier and indeed our performance levels increase by up to 8 percent.” Even once away from work, many Brits find it hard to switch off. Nearly 1 in 3 (30 percent) of respondents admitted checking emails whilst on holiday, 1 in 7 (14 percent) confessed to making work calls and nearly 1 in 5 (18 percent) admitted not setting Out of Office replies so they can work whilst they’re away.

Dr. Christian also took to the streets yesterday giving busy London commuters expert advice about improving their wellbeing, giving out Holiday Prescription ebookers travel vouchers to those most in need of a break. Mark McKenna, Commercial Director at ebookers, adds “Whilst everyone knows holidays can be great fun it’s the wider personal, professional and social benefits holidays bring that often get overlooked. We hope by highlighting the range of benefits with our experts we can inspire Brits to take a break that’s right for them.”

www.ebookers.com/travel-blog

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