The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
New year return to work fills frazzled workers with dread
Juggling work, life in general and chores is overwhelming for many
A tenth of UK workers are estimated to have phoned in sick yesterday on what should have been their first day back this year.
Research by Currys PC World suggested as many as one in 10 people would take an impromptu duvet day.
According to the survey of 2,000 adults, 57% were overwhelmed by the prospect of another hectic 12 months of juggling their job with chores and household paperwork.
Ali Burford from Currys PC World said: “It’s understandable that so many adults are feeling apprehensive about 2018 – managing work, running a home and divvying out the chores is not easy.
“Heading back into work today, as most of us are, is like starting from scratch and the mere thought of all the jobs we have to tackle in the new year is daunting.”
The research of also revealed the extent of household chores awaiting the average Briton over 2018.
In the next year, the average person will make an estimated 197 trips to the supermarket, tackle 239 loads of washing, cook 296 evening meals and get through 150 piles of ironing.
Seven in 10 Brits said administration and domestic chores got in the way of their life and 30% of respondents said they were waiting for a lucky break to make life easier.
Those surveyed said they would have to make three visits over the next 12 months to relatives they do not like and take the car to the garage at least twice.
Seven in 10 Brits said admin and domestic chores got in the way of their life and 30% of respondents said they were waiting for a lucky break to make life easier.
Of those studied, 44% said they would have much more spare time if they did not have to do domestic chores.
A third complained that doing laundry took up their weekends, with cleaning the oven and ironing also among the most detested tasks.
One in five adults polled said they were apprehensive about their cashflow in 2018 and one in 10 said the thought of an entire year of working left them anxious.