• 55% of Brits admit to ‘hibernating’ during the winter
• Happiness expert, Miriam Akhtar says Brits should avoid ‘FOGO’ – Fear of Going Out
• 74% agree that holidays could help revitalise them from the winter blues

New research commissioned by the UK’s second largest tour operator, Jet2holidays has revealed that more than half (55%) of us admit to going into ‘hibernation’ as the days draw in, the nights get longer and temperatures fall with rain, wind and even snow making the warmth of the summer sun no more than a distant memory.

As we start to cocoon ourselves, research by Jet2holidays highlights that more than one in four (27%) say they spend less time with family and friends during the colder months while 34% admit they make fewer plans for the weekend. When winter comes around, the nation will even ditch going out for meals and drinks (35%), put off exercising (32%) and visit the shops less (28%) as our spirits plummet.

Humans aren’t built for hibernation, yet 47% say that the dark nights and shorter days make them sleepier while 45% are bedeviled by the winter blues, and 71% blame the cold and wet weather for their dormant state. Furthermore, 23% admitted that they are more likely to “pull a sickie” at work during the winter than the summer.

So, how do people in the UK fight this feeling amid the cold, dull and grey conditions? Well, 71% believe that taking a winter holiday is the best way to revitalise and energise themselves.

Miriam Akhtar, Psychologist and Happiness expert, comments: “As the days become shorter, our sleep and waking cycles become disrupted. The lack of sunlight produces more melatonin, the hormone which makes you sleepy – that coupled with the fact that the cold and dreary weather makes us more lethargic, leaves us desperately trying to conserve our energy levels.

“Getting out and travelling in the winter period is great for our well-being – rather than ‘hibernating’ we should be getting out there, being active and spending time with loved ones, but this research shows that some people may be experiencing FOGO, aka Fear of Going Out.”

Miriam’s Top Tips for Combating Winter Blues:

• Stimulate your mind – stay mentally active, rather than turning into a couch potato. Do a puzzle, take up a new hobby and get into travel to broaden your mind and feed your wellbeing.
• Go for regular exercise – it doesn’t have to be a HIIT class, just a little light exercise everyday will do the trick. Or get into winter sports like skiing or ice-skating. Winter is a great time to experiment with new activities. The thrill of the new is good for the soul and releases dopamine – one of the feel-good neurochemicals.
• Take a winter break – travel not only gives you a break from work and the everyday routine, it gives you something to get through the colder months, releasing happy hormones and building positive emotions like optimism and hope.
• “Bien dans sa peau” means “to feel good in your skin” – the French were really onto something when they coined the term. Exposure to sunlight increases the release of serotonin, another one of the happy hormones which helps boost the mood, so try to go outside in daylight or sit near a window with bright light, where possible.

Zoe Towers, Head of Product at Jet2holidays, said: “We commissioned this survey to celebrate the launch of our Winter Your Way campaign, as well as see how the onset of winter impacts the nations’ mood and the different types of holidays we like to take during the cooler months.