London - Holidays are meant to be a time of relaxation, when all your cares wash away.
But for many of us, the opposite appears to be true.
In fact, one in four holidaymakers – 23 percent – return from a break more stressed than when they set off, according to a survey.
About 26 percent even need two to three days to unwind when they get back.
Nationwide Building Society, which commissioned the poll of 2 000 people, said Britons spend an average of £1 900 (about R34 000) on their holiday, and overspending while away was one of holidaymakers’ top worries.
Others included having enough money to get by, forgetting something, being delayed, missing a flight and having enough insurance cover if something goes wrong.
The research also found a significant difference between men and women, with one in five men claiming that nothing worried them before a holiday, compared with more than one in ten women.
Neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis, of the research consultancy Mindlab International, said: “Holiday stresses often stem from unrealistic expectations of a completely care-free vacation. Worries don’t disappear just because you are in the sun. In fact, when the mind doesn’t have the usual day-to-day challenges and demands to cope with, it typically finds other things to occupy it, such as money worries.
“Taking up activities, learning a few phrases in the local language and exploring the culture are just a few ways to keep your mind busy, helping you unwind more quickly.”
Phil Smith, Nationwide’s head of current accounts, said: “It is perhaps unsurprising that holidays can be a source of stress, with people fretting over missing their flights, the prospect of delays, having sufficient money and being fully covered if things don’t go to plan.”
Daily Mail