It’s no surprise that so many of us struggle to switch off during downtime. In the same ELVTR survey, one in four said they get asked to check their emails while on holiday by their bosses and colleagues and 24% are bombarded by work-related text messages while away from their desks.

It’s having such a severe impact that 35% of people in the UK are taking less time off than they used to, and 12% say they won’t be able to take holidays at all due to understaffing following company redundancies. In fact, having no one to delegate work to is the main reason people work while on vacation at 39%, with 5% saying they are afraid they might lose their job if they don’t.

“We live in a world that glorifies working 24/7, constantly being busy, and it makes relaxation seem like a luxury,” shares Justin Chapman, a travel expert at Go2Africa. “There’s often an unspoken expectation to be available, productive, and contactable at all times, and that includes during time off.” As he explains, this culture can easily make us feel like taking time off means we’re less committed to our roles, especially if our co-workers and managers rarely take time off themselves, or continue to work even when they do take a break.

You don’t need me to tell you that time off, whether a holiday or simply a break from your desk and daily life, is essential in maintaining the healthy work-life balance we all crave. Resting physically, mentally and emotionally shouldn’t be a luxury but a priority, as pushing ourselves further towards burnout is ultimately detrimental to not just ourselves but our companies too. So how do we begin to get over the fear and guilt of taking time away?

Why we need to stop feeling guilty about taking time off work to go on holiday