Stressed Brits favour adrenaline junkie activities such as skiing to help them unwind
MILLIONS of Brits are ditching a bath and slippers in favour of high-octane activities to unwind.
A poll of 2,000 adults found in the event of extreme stress, nearly one in five will do something active outdoors.
Half go so far as to say playing a sport or being active is a "real release" from the pressures of everyday life.
Among the thrilling ways Brits release the pressure valve of their life are skiing, mountain biking or throwing punches in a boxing ring.
The study, by Heathrow Airport, also found one in four adults have had times when they’ve been so stressed, they’ve booked a holiday to have something to look forward to, with 14 per cent planning a trip designed to get their adrenaline racing.
One in 10 have booked a skiing trip, while others have taken holidays to locations where they are able to try hang gliding, water skiing or surfing.
A spokesperson for Heathrow, which commissioned the research to mark the launch of a new ski route, said: “We could all do with making sure we deal with our stress - and doing something exciting can help.
“An activity or trip that takes you out of your comfort zone can help to focus the mind on the task at hand, rather than dwelling on potentially stressful thoughts or anxieties.
“And of course, often these more extreme activities are sports or exercise-based, which has also been shown to help improve mental health.
“Ski season provides a great opportunity for an adrenaline-fuelled trip, especially now that Scandinavian Airlines has today launched its route from Heathrow to the brand new Scandinavian Mountains Airport in Sälen.”
STRESS BUSTERS
The study also found three quarters of Brits describe their lives as generally stressful, and 76 per cent believe they’ve also got more susceptible to stress as they’ve aged.
But more than a fifth feel ‘completely free’ when they’re doing something that gets their blood pumping.
And a third say it makes them feel ‘alive’.
Just over 15 per cent think an adrenaline spike helps them ‘get out of their own head’ and the same amount say it makes them feel free of stress.
Despite the benefits, on average Brits only do something truly active around eight times a year.
And even though millions love nothing more than pushing past their own limitations and getting out of their comfort zone, 42 per cent still prefer a beach holiday with minimal activity.
But four in 10 believe if they go on holiday and there’s nothing much to do, their mind wanders too much, making it hard to relax.
It also emerged 23 per cent have been on a skiing holiday, and 26 per cent haven’t but would like to.
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Three quarters of those who have been skiing say they feel they get to really unwind from the stress and strains of everyday life when they are on the ski slopes.
But while 31 per cent head to the same skiing destination, an adventurous 29 per cent try a different slope every time they go away, and are willing to travel for around three-and-a-half hours to experience something completely new.
When choosing where to go, location and cost is the most important factor, followed by good value, travelling time and challenging slopes, according to the survey carried out via OnePoll.