Swerve bank holiday sickness

Did you know that ‘leisure sickness’ is a thing? Researchers* found that headaches, colds, sickness, aches and pain, and low energy are more common when you take time off.

‘When you’re rushing about getting everything ready for your spring break, stress hormones are released that stimulate the immune system, so your body is basically in fighting mode,’ says Cary Cooper, stress expert and professor of organisational psychology at the University of Lancaster. ‘But when you start your break and stress subsides, those immune cells retreat, making you more vulnerable to illness.’

✱ Wind down gently: ‘Don’t go from 100 miles an hour to a screeching halt, which puts your body in a state of shock,’ says Professor Cooper. ‘Instead, have a day or two of “slow relaxation” before any holiday.’