East Anglians worry more about time than health

New research by Harwich-based ferry operator Stena Line has found that the biggest gripe for the East Anglian public is not having enough time to do what they want. Their lack of satisfaction leads to stress which makes them less effective in the workplace. 49 per cent of those surveyed cited lack of time as the most stressful thing in their life, with health concerns scoring a low 9 per cent.

Looking at antidotes to stress, Stena Line found that far from dreaming of fame and money, it is the simple things in life that were really yearned for. 28 per cent of those surveyed said that a simple short haul holiday would reduce stress, whilst 25 per cent wanted more time to listen to music, 21 per cent wanted to read more and 15 per cent wanted to have a warm soothing bath.

The survey also revealed that a short haul holiday causes its own woes - with 39 per cent citing the dread of completing their work before going on holiday as the most stressful. 39 per cent also found air travel the most stressful with 1 per cent citing ferries as a stressful mode of transport.

And what would people do if their day magically had an extra 10 hours added to it? Thankfully, only two per cent said that they would use their time to get drunk whilst 30 per cent said they would learn a new skill.

Lars Olsson, Stena Line's general manager of travel for the UK, said, “With the increasing stress, crowds and queues involved in air travel we’re delighted that more people, especially from Essex and the Southeast, are turning to ferry travel to allay their stress.

“Stena Line’s ‘dutchflyer’ rail and sail product is becoming increasingly popular as it combines with overnight crossings, allowing workers to minimise time out of the office and finish assignments before heading to the port by train from ast Anglia or London after work, sailing in one of our refitted cabins.

“With the credit crunch taking a real hold we expect that ‘dutchflyer’ will gain further popularity, as the cabins included in the fare eliminate the need to pay for an extra hotel night.”

To make a booking visit stenaline.co.uk or visit your local travel agent.