Brits breakdown under the pressure of taking a break
With the holiday season in full swing, many working Brits are hitting breaking point before they even get to the beach. Vitality is calling on people to prioritise their mental and physical wellbeing ahead of time off, as new research reveals 73% of workers suffer stress and anxiety in the run-up to annual leave, leading to low mood or motivation (21%), emotional exhaustion, sleepless nights or difficulty concentrating (all 20%).
This pre-holiday stress is taking its toll on Brits’ physical health too, with many experiencing headaches or migraines (18%) or feeling sick and dizzy (10%) before they head on holiday. In fact, two fifths (38%) feel so run down by the time their annual leave starts that they can’t enjoy it as much as they’d like. A third (35%) say they often fall ill just as their break begins, and 40% feel their body “holds off” getting sick until they relax.
One major culprit is the frantic scramble to clear workloads before leaving. Nearly two fifths (38%) work longer hours in the lead-up to time off, and 29% feel pressure to be extra productive. Healthy habits suffer too, as 22% are too busy to stick to their normal routine and 13% turn to more takeaways and skip workouts, arriving at the airport in worse shape than when they booked the trip.
Vitality is urging Brits to take proactive steps to protect their mental and physical wellbeing in the lead-up to annual leave, reminding people that a break is essential for long-term health – even if, at times, it feels like harder work to step away.
This comes as more than half (57%) spend their break dreading the return to work, while 17% are left feeling guilty for taking time away and can’t mentally disconnect. For one in ten (12%), work thoughts linger for more than five days of annual leave.
This leads to unhealthy holiday habits for many Brits, with a huge 73% admitting to doing something work-related while away. Almost half (47%) check emails and messages, 30% have taken a work call, and a quarter (24%) even pack their laptop or phone “just in case.” Alarmingly, 17% plan to complete actual work while on annual leave.
With so much stress before and during time off, it’s no surprise some Brits are questioning whether holidays are worth it at all. Two fifths (38%) say the work backlog makes a holiday feel pointless, and nearly half (47%) admit they return to twice as much work as they left behind – leading 30% to think that taking time off work feels more stressful than its worth.
Silvia Cordoba, Senior Mental health and Wellbeing Coach at Vitality says: “We ideally want to think of holidays as a time to relax and decrease stress, but for too many Brits they’ve become an added pressure. Our research shows the need (or worry?) to get everything done before annual leave often means sacrificing sleep, skipping meals or exercise, and stress often building up to the point that people arrive on holiday exhausted or even unwell. Overwhelming stress and unhealthy habits don’t just affect a holiday – over time they can contribute to long-term health issues such as heart problems, anxiety or depression.
“Self-care and support are useful and needed even before you pack your suitcase - from looking after your sleep, eating well, staying active and setting healthy boundaries around work. These steps not only make your holiday more restorative, but they’ll also help you live a happier, healthier and longer life.”
Notes to editors
Research was conducted by Opinium of 2,000 working people aged 18+ and based in the UK, in August 2025.