A study of 2,000 workers found that the majority of people who take holiday will use their annual leave to tick off and tackle administrative tasks and catch up on work
Only four out of ten workers use their annual leave for holidays, reveals a recent study.
The majority use it to tackle administrative tasks and catch up on work. An average worker will spend 11 days of their holiday allowance sorting out their to-do list, booking trips, catching up on emails, and reviewing bills.
The study, commissioned by National Rail on behalf of the rail industry, surveyed 2,000 workers. It found that while 36 per cent who don’t rest on their days off feel productive, 25 per cent are frustrated at having to use their annual leave for such tasks.
According to the study, a quarter of workers don’t use their spare time wisely enough and a fifth say they are a serial procrastinator. This could be why many find themselves using their time off to catch up on tasks.
National Rail has partnered with productivity expert Clare Evans to suggest ways people can use their travel time more productively, offering tailored tips based on individual personalities, so they can use their spare time to focus on the things that matter most, like resting or spending quality with family.
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Clare said: “Train journeys can be the perfect time to get through many of those tasks, offering unique pockets of time with fewer life distractions. But productivity isn’t just about to-do lists, it’s also about the calm and control that comes from knowing your priorities are taken care of.”
She emphasised the importance of planning: “Take five minutes of your journey to jot down your to-do list; set a short time limit – even just ten or fifteen minutes – to complete one task. Add it to your phone or calendar like a meeting, so it’s booked in for your journey and you’re committed.”
Of those surveyed, 89 per cent are train travellers and of the fifth (20 per cent) who utilise their journeys to get things done, 52 per cent of them feel proud they’ve used their time efficiently.
A further 28 per cent said productive trips mean they have more time and space for creativity while 27 per cent free up time to spend with family and friends when they reach their destination.
Among the tasks travellers tick off on their journeys include writing shopping lists, sorting through photos on their phone and adding upcoming events to their calendars.
As a result of getting stuff done on their travels, people felt less stressed, experienced an improvement in their mood and felt more in control of their upcoming days.
A third of rail users (32 per cent) polled via OnePoll said the views out of train windows help clear their head for concentration and the ideal journey time to tick things off would be just over an hour – 64 minutes.
Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group, said: “It’s clear from our research that many people feel overwhelmed by the tasks that can pile up outside of work, with precious annual leave and weekends often spent managing commitments rather than truly switching off.
“We want to show travellers that on the train you can reclaim your time. Whether it’s writing a shopping list, booking an appointment, or simply getting organised.
“The study shows that time well spent on the train can help people feel more in control, less stressed, and ready to focus on what matters most, beyond the to-do list.”
Productivity Expert, Clare Evans added: “As the study shows, using your train travel time productivity can positively impact your wellbeing, and these small steps can help you feel less stressed, more focused, balanced and connected to what matters most to you.”
