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Four in five people have a 'happy place' to escape daily stress, poll suggests

Most mental escapes tend to be solitary rather than social

Emma Elsworthy
Tuesday 02 July 2019 17:40 BST
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Majority of British poll respondents escape to a 'happy place'
Majority of British poll respondents escape to a 'happy place'

Four in five people surveyed for a new poll have a “happy place” to escape the stresses of everyday life.

Walking in the countryside, soaking in a long bath and spending an evening in the local pub are among the things which bring people the most joy, the poll of 2,000 British adults found.

Relaxing in the garden, being on holiday in the sun and listening to their favourite music also made the list.

A night in with a take away, binge-watching box sets, browsing the shelves of a bookshop and being in bed with a book and a cup of tea also ranked as popular ways to deal with stress.

The results also found women are 10 percent more likely to have a happy place, and to seek solace in yoga, exercise or artistic pursuits than men, who prefer going to the pub or pottering in the shed.

“While most people are happy with their lives in general, it’s natural for stress to build up," said Lisa Davis of Skipton Building Society, which commissioned the poll. “It’s really important to have somewhere you can escape to, be it physically or even mentally, to take your mind off the everyday and help you feel in a good place.’’

Most ”happy places” were something done in solitude rather than with other people.

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And the average respondent escaped six times a week, although one in 10 reported doing so more than 11 times each week.

“It’s refreshing to see the variety of things that Brits do to improve their happiness," Ms Davis said. ‘’Whether it’s spending time with friends, curling up with a good book or even having the time to manage their finances, all of which have been found to a make a difference to a person’s well-being.”

SWNS

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