Stay relaxed after your vacation

DAK Holiday Report 2014: Most Germans recover well during the holidays

08/27/2014

For many Germans, the summer holidays are the most important time of the year for rest and relaxation. Undisturbed lying in the sun and relax gives strength for the time after the holiday. Here the current DAK vacation report 2014 shows that in comparison to the previous years „the 2014 recovery is the biggest so far“ was. However, younger employees in particular would often be busy with the job while on holiday, reports the DAK. Correspondingly lower falls for her the recovery factor.

Leisure, sun, relaxation, family - this is how most Germans imagine their vacation. But not all can turn off properly during the holidays. Although the DAK Holiday Report 2014 shows a gratifying improvement compared to previous years, nine out of ten holidaymakers said they had recovered well or very well in recent weeks. But especially in the age group of 30- to 44-year-olds, the respondents had increasingly stated that the holiday could not contribute to their recovery. „15 percent of workers between the ages of 30 and 44 have not recovered“, so the message of the DAK.

Stress, illness and bad weather prevent relaxation
The representative population survey conducted by the Forsa Institute on behalf of DAK-Gesundheit has shown that especially the 45- to 59-year-olds were able to relax particularly well during the holidays this year. Regionally, people in eastern Germany had recovered particularly well after their holidays, while respondents in Baden-Wuerttemberg increasingly had problems relaxing. As the main reason for lack of opportunities for relaxation on vacation, the interviewees called the ongoing occupation with the job. Even when on holiday, one in ten employees must be reachable by mobile or Internet for the employer, reports the DAK. Of the holidaymakers with bad recovery, 37 percent could not turn off the job. However, a positive trend compared to the previous year is also noticeable here, as 52 percent of those affected had stated. As further reasons for the lack of relaxation in the summer holidays 2014 were by respondents „Stress with family or friends (18 percent), illness (17 percent) or bad weather (15 percent)“ called.

Separate job and holidays clearly
Even though „The holiday report 2014 shows that most people can recover well during their free time“, There are clear differences in the individual phases of life, explained the graduate psychologist Frank Meiners of the DAK-health. Above all, the so-called rush hour generation of 30- to 44-year-olds is often under great professional pressure and wants to be constantly available. For the recovery, however, it is important that the professional burdens people do not pursue until the holidays, the expert reported. „Anyone who is still sitting on his office chair while bathing in thought rarely returns to his workplace. This sooner or later has a negative effect on your health“, Meiners continues. However, this is also increasingly aware of the employees. Many would therefore try to separate job and holidays clearly. After all, every third summer 2014 vacationer explained that the abandonment of cell phones or the Internet was particularly beneficial to his recovery. In 2012, these were still significantly fewer people.

Sun, nature and family as the most important relaxation factors
The most important relaxation factor for 61 percent of well-rested vacationers was the lack of workload. Even among the 30- to 44-year-olds, 68 percent cited this as the main relaxation factor. In addition, sun and nature are especially important to Germans (79 percent need them to relax), time for themselves (68 percent) and family time (64 percent). A change of location also contributes significantly to the relaxation on holiday at 63 percent. In addition, most Germans had their summer vacation for special health measures such as the targeted reduction of stress, exercise, sports or fitness training used. A lot of sleep and a healthy diet were also important to many holidaymakers. However, some respondents had health problems during the holidays. That's how it was „seven percent of vacationers get sick or injured“, reports the DAK. It would have the most affected (41 percent) suffered from a cold. Twenty-two percent of illnesses were caused by an accident or fall and 15% of illnesses on vacation were due to gastrointestinal problems. (Fp)