Vacations should be mandatory!


I know when you have your own business it can be very difficult to give yourself permission to take time off.  Not working usually means no income.  I know many entrepreneurs who just "power through," with maybe a few long weekends substituting for substantive time off.

Don't do it!  There is scientific proof (really!) that people who take vacations are healthier, live longer, etc. etc.  Here is one article if you don't believe me.  NY Post   The United States is terribly behind when it comes to vacations---check out this eye-opening look at where we stand in comparison to other countries:  11 Points.

It is very healthy for your business to examine what it is you spend your time doing and figure out how you can get it done without constant care and feeding by you.  Whether that means delegating tasks, doing things in advance or scheduling time more intelligently, your business will benefit in the long run.  Plus imagine how much more enthusiasm you'll have if you step away for a short while.

From personal experience, I know that the month of July was wonderfully restorative for me---taking two weeks at the lake with my family has re-energized me and helped me prioritize and keep things in perspective.  After my healing time away, I've rolled my sleeves up and felt like the quality and quantity of my work was vastly improved.

Oh, yeah and it was a lot of fun, too.  Just a few snaps from the family trip to the mountains: