The real cost of stress: Why a spa day may save you more than time off

Stress isn’t just an emotional state; it’s a measurable health risk with tangible costs for individuals, employers, and the UK economy. With rising burnout, mental health challenges and sickness absences, individuals and organisations alike need proactive solutions, and while there’s no magic cure, finding ways to manage stress are often more effective, and realistic, than trying to stop or prevent it. Spas can be an inspiring way to not only feel more relaxed in the moment, but take inspiration for wellbeing techniques that can be incorporated into our lifestyles as well.

Stress is a costly problem

Work-related stress, burnout, anxiety and depression are amongst the leading causes of sickness absence in the UK:

• The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), estimates that 40.1 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2024/25 (LFS), and stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders for 22.1 million of them.
• Recent research estimated that workplace stress, burnout and poor mental health cost the economy a staggering £28 billion a year, driven primarily by lost productivity and absence.
• CIPD data shows employees are now off sick for nearly two working weeks per year on average, a rise closely tied to mental and physical strain.

Importantly, while the numbers are stark, they don’t scratch the surface of what is going on, because beneath the figures are people who are struggling with each day and the health implications that chronic stress can bring.

What happens in the body when we’re stressed

Stress isn’t just something that exists in your head (although if it was, that doesn’t make it less of a problem). Even so, its effects are measurable in our physical wellbeing as well.

There are different types of stress - some are related to sudden, short-term or traumatic situations, some are related to our environment (noise, pollution, difficult living situations), and some are ongoing, emotional, physiological and so forth. None of them are enjoyable but different sources of stress may have different effects and ways of managing.

When it comes to lifestyles, what we're largely talking about is chronic, psychological, and environmental stress - the things that are happening all the time and the impact of which builds up.

An NIH research paper notes of chronic stress:

"This occurs when the stressor persists over an extended period. Prolonged exposure to chronic stress can lead to cumulative physiological and psychological effects, increasing the risk of health problems such as cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and depression."

It goes on to highlight that the two key components of the physiological responses impact:

• The Sympathetic-Adreno-Medullar System (better known for the 'fight or flight' response), which increases the heart rate, raises blood pressure, can cause rapid breathing, and triggers the breakdown of glucose. Often people start to sweat, and it can upset your gut as well.
• The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal System, which is a long-term stress response system, which releases cortisol and impacts energy management, immune responses, and metabolism. In the short-term it can be very helpful for responding to stressful situations, but if stress is continuous then it can cause inflammation and is linked to widespread health issues ranging from cardiovascular disease to depression.

Spa therapies are about more than feel-good-factor

Multiple scientific studies show that spa treatments and experiences have measurable effects on stress markers:

Cortisol reduction

• A systematic review found that balneotherapy and spa therapy can help reduce cortisol levels, suggesting real stress-regulating effects.
• Salivary cortisol, which is a key physiological stress indicator, decreased after spa bathing, particularly among individuals with higher stress levels.

Long-term psychophysiological impact

A 16-week trial of repeated thermal spa immersion reported reductions in psychological stress measures and improved wellbeing outcomes, supporting the idea that spa use is a helpful ongoing preventive measure for wellbeing, rather than just a one-off treat.

Beyond water: Massage and nervous system regulation

Though not every study specifically isolates each aspect of the spa experience, collectively, reports both anecdotal and documented point to the individual and collective benefits of hydrotherapy and touch therapies for helping us to relax and manage stress. Central to that is the influence spa treatments have on the body’s ‘rest and digest’ mode.

Beyond the measurable benefits

Beyond the research, anyone who has been on a spa break can attest to the benefits that go beyond standard time-off often. Many people feel that their sleep improves, they feel more genuinely rested, renewed and revived, feel more connected to their own bodies, have been able to get out of their heads for a while, and often enjoy more meaningful time with friends and loved ones, or on their own.

Prevention and reaction: Why spa days matter

Most conversations about stress focus on crisis management - time off, sick leave, and absences, often emphasising time off after stress has already taken its toll.

However, in all things prevention is better than cure. Stress is a part of life, and that’s ok, but chronic stress or stress that takes over isn’t. Building time off into our routines, so we can manage stress means that we can enjoy each day more, and help to prevent serious health issues.

While once upon a time burnout was something of a badge of honour, there’s been a shift in how we think about wellbeing and there’s a greater reverence for proactive care. While we all find things that work best for us, spas can be a helpful way to manage wellbeing and find inspiration as well, whether it’s new fitness ideas, learning how we respond to aromatherapy, or understanding the role of breathwork and touch therapies in stress management.

Whether you’re a professional feeling the weight of a high-pressure job, a wellness-conscious person seeking balance, or an employer looking to reduce absence and boost wellbeing in your workplace, spa days aren’t indulgence - they’re investment, and a joyful one at that.

Thinking about a spa day?

If you’re interested in seeing how spa experiences can help you manage your wellbeing, whether it’s a restorative weekend or a restorative afternoon, there’s a world of opportunities waiting to be explored.