When was your last break?

A 2022 Capital One business survey said that 52% of business owners haven't taken a vacation in over a year. 

I'm surprised this number is not higher. 

I recently spoke with a colleague who said, “I’m really tired. I don't remember the last time I took a vacation.”

Talk about a perfect recipe for burnout. 

And I get it.

The past few years have been especially difficult with COVID travel restrictions. It’s a lot of work making plans only to have them squashed at the last minute.

But that’s no excuse.

As leaders, we need breaks. And I don’t mean 2-hour lunch breaks. I mean a 6-day break, or a ten-day break when you don’t think about work for an extended period of time.

• No phone calls

• No meetings

• No emails

Truly disconnecting.

It clears our minds and removes the stress and the overwhelm that builds up over time.

When I get a chance to get away and clear my head, I come back totally energized and full of new ideas and new energy. 

Tasks I’d been putting off suddenly weren’t so daunting.  

We worry we're going to lose productivity, but we gain productivity, because we come back so refreshed and energized. 

Taking a break is good for your:

• Mental health

• Creativity 

• Productivity

• Relationships

And, as a leader, by taking a break, you’re also setting the right example for your team members. They need time to re-energize as well.

After a brutally busy month, I recently took a 5-day mini-vacation. And by day four, I was actually excited to get back to work. I loved that feeling, but it never would have happened if I didn’t switch off a bit first.

When was the last time you took a vacation? And when is your next one?