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Brits are a nation wracked by guilt we even feel bad for eating chips

80% of Brits feel bad for everyday things we shouldn't - everything from a bit of me time to a bowl of chips gets us feeling guilty, new research shows

[Fish and chips served in newspaper]

Even eating chips makes us feel guilty(Image: Shaiith via Getty Images)

Its official: We are a nation wracked with guilt, with eight in ten (80%) admitting they feel bad for everyday things they really shouldnt - an average of eight times a month.

New research, conducted by Marella Cruises, TUIs UK cruise line, reveals four in ten (39%) Brits feel bad simply for having some me time, while a third (31%) suffer a pang of guilt when they cancel on friends or take too long to text them back (30%).

A further 31% admit to feeling awkward when they cross the road to avoid chit chat with a neighbour.

Calling in sick to work, even when genuinely ill (29%), leaving the bed unmade (28%), eating chips (27%) and throwing away a small amount of food (27%) are also everyday guilt triggers, along with staying in PJs past 10am (25%) and not calling parents often enough (25%).

Food appears to be a constant source of guilt with 23% feeling it after saying yes to a slice of cake, 22% after eating two biscuits instead of one, and 20% after ordering a Friday night takeaway when they could have cooked.

And even though the weather may be improving, one in six (14%) still feel guilty about sneaking the heating on, while one in ten (11%) feel bad when they watch TV in the summer.

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Denise van Outen returns as Marella Cruises' Chief Chill-Out Officer

With all this guilt, it's no surprise that 69% admit they struggle to properly switch off, spending just 67 minutes a week relaxing. 86% go a step further and say they regularly feel guilty about sitting down to relax when there are other things they could be doing.

As a result, four in ten (40%) feel like they are always on the go, with a further 22% worried that they are close to burning out.

When it comes to how deeply ingrained the nation's productivity culture has become, four in ten (41%) think that social media has put pressure on people to constantly stay active and busy.

So strong is this pressure that 40% of Brits confess to hiding their lazy downtime on social media to appear more productive, with 42% admitting that they have felt pressured to do things - like going to a party (38%), the park (34%), the gym (30%), tourist hotspots on holiday (28%) and even cooking healthy food (27%) - when they dont actually want to, simply so they can share it on social media.

The nation's collective guilt and stress dont end there though, two thirds (61%) admit they struggle to relax on holiday, even when sunbathing on a lounger.

Getting to the airport on time (51%), the fear of getting lost (34%), packing the right clothes (33%), organising transfers (29%) and finding nice places to eat (27%) all leave Brits feeling anxious.

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Denise is trying to help us unwind

Its no wonder that, on average, it takes Brits three days of a week-long break to fully unwind.

To encourage guilt-free relaxation on holiday, Marella Cruises has designed the ultimate one-stop-shop outfit solution. The worlds first PJkini removes decision fatigue and encourages guests to fully switch off without a hint of guilt.

Styled by Denise van Outen, who returns this year as Marella Cruises Chief Chill-Out Officer, this lazy hack champions a more relaxed approach to holidays and encourages Brits to ditch the guilt and embrace doing absolutely nothing during a well-deserved break.

With Marella Cruises, every aspect of your holiday is taken care of. Offering all-inclusive cruise holidays with full end-to-end service including flights, cabins, entertainment, food and drinks, trips, and transfers Marella Cruises also provides regional flying from over 20 UK airports, alongside a range of cruise-and-stay options, making switching off effortless from start to finish

Denise van Outen said: Im absolutely thrilled to be back as Marella Cruises Chief Chill-Out Officer. Ive always loved holidays and everything theyre meant to be about - switching off, having fun and properly relaxing - so I know just how hard it can be for Brits to actually do that without feeling guilty.

"Thats why I love the PJkini. As the worlds first swimwear-meets-nightwear hybrid, its the ultimate lazy hack for anyone who wants to maximise relaxation from the moment their holiday begins. Its fun, practical, and basically says: stop faffing and enjoy yourself. Holiday mode should start before you even step onboard, not days into your break. With this, its just easy, effortless relaxation all the way.

The study also found that more than a third (35%) think that as a nation, Brits need to chill out, while eight in ten (80%) believe feeling guilty is a uniquely British trait, earning the phenomenon the title of Very British Guilt.

TOP VERY BRITISH GUILT TRIPS:

1. Enjoying some me time - 39%
2. Cancelling on your friends - 31%
3. Crossing the road to avoid chit chat with a neighbour - 31%
4. Not texting your friends back for a few days - 30%
5. Calling in sick to work, even when youre genuinely ill - 29%
6. Leaving your bed unmade - 28%
7. Eating chips - 27%
8. Throwing away a small amount of food - 27%
9. Staying in your PJs past 10am - 25%
10. Being hungover - 25%
11. Not calling your parents - 25%
12. Lying in past 9.30am on a Saturday - 25%
13. Saying yes to a slice of cake - 23%
14. Having two biscuits instead of one - 22%
15. Ordering a Friday night takeaway when you could have cooked - 20%
16. Not taking the bins out - 19%
17. Staying in the shower for too long - 19%
18. Going out for dinner, when you have food at home - 17%
19. Reading your book when you could be doing chores - 16%
20. Bingeing a TV show in one sitting - 15%
21. Putting the heating on in May - 14%
22. Skipping the gym - 14%
23. Spending Sunday in your PJs - 13%
24. Taking the lift to the first floor - 12%
25. Only taking your dog for a short walk - 12%
26. Cancelling a date - 11%
27. Watching TV in the summer - 11%
28. Taking an Uber when you could have got the bus - 10%
29. Running a deep bath - 9%
30. Arranging a food delivery rather than going to the shops - 9%

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