Wave goodbye to stress with Norfolkline’s campaign against boring holidays
Dover, 2009
Research released today from Norfolkline Ferries has found it takes parents up to two days to relax on holiday as a result of Pre-Holiday Tension, with many admitting the symptoms impact their ability to let go and have fun with the family.
The research, conducted to support the launch of Norfolkline’s campaign for Families Against Boring Holidays, questioned over 5,300 people and uncovered that the number one cause of holiday stress is actually bad weather (44%), as it leaves many parents at a loss when it comes to keeping the children entertained.
Trying to uncover the main causes of PHT and how best parents can avoid the symptoms and maximise stress-free fun on holiday, the research found there were a few common culprits:
- Bursting suitcases and deciding what to take contribute to the number one cause of PHT, packing!
- More than a third (39%) admitted that getting everyone, and everything packed and ready to go causes them to stress out pre-departure.
- Work is a major issue for parents with one in six (15%) finding the office wrap up process a key cause of pre-holiday stress.
As people continue to feel the pinch and tighten their purse strings, a quarter of respondents (25%) claim that the cost of activities for the family can lead to unnecessary holiday stress. Despite one in ten parents (10%) admitting that they never play with their children on holiday, 31% of those do try and keep the kids entertained by building sandcastles together.
With ferry travel voted the least stressful form of transport (8%) compared with air travel (44%), Norfolkline Ferries have decided to help parents avoid PHT altogether and have been working with well known psychologist Donna Dawson to compile a list of top tips for parents planning a summer trip this year, as well as creating special buckets and spades for parents heading to a beach this summer.