rits are losing valuable days of annual leave because they’re too anxious to take the time off that they’re entitled to. New research by travel comparison website TravelSupermarket has found that only 75 per cent* of all full-time British workers took their entire holiday entitlement over the past 12 months while six per cent still had seven days or more left in the bank when it expired. Of those who regularly take time off throughout the year, one in five admitted they return to work feeling more anxious than before they left.

• 25 per cent of Brits don’t take all of their annual leave each year
• One in five Brits ‘anxious’ about returning to work after a holiday

For 46 per cent of Brits, their biggest consideration when booking their annual leave is matching their time off with that of their partner’s or the family’s. This is followed by the cost of a holiday (34 per cent) and the ‘implications’ their holiday may have on their employer (20 per cent). With many British workers set to take their main 2012 holiday over July and August** switching off will be near impossible for 13 per cent who still end up checking emails and taking work phone calls while poolside or sightseeing.

Almost half of all Brits (45 per cent), view annual leave as ‘vital’ to their mental and physical health and keeping them motivated throughout the year. Being organised is key when booking out the year’s holidays and almost one in five (17 per cent) of British workers are already making the most of this year’s Bank Holidays by booking their annual leave around them.

Once we arrived at our destination, almost 80 per cent of British workers said they started to relax almost immediately, seven per cent said it takes them up to five days while six per cent said they never felt fully relaxed on holiday.

TravelSupermarket’s travel expert Bob Atkinson says: “The best advice I can give all UK workers is to be organised well in advance, this will help you to book, and keep, your holiday allocation. If you’re planning a summer getaway, now really is the time to start looking into flights and accommodation to not only make sure you bag the best bargain but also to have something to look forward to.

“As hard as it may be, switching off your phone while you’re away will not only make your holiday more enjoyable, it will make your companion or family’s trip even better. There’s nothing worse than holidaying with someone who is continually taking calls or responding to emails. If you can’t go cold turkey, try and check your phone just once a day and you’ll feel more relaxed and less anxious for it.

Credit: onrec.com