Taking a Vacation is Good for Business

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Taking a Vacation

This week, Diane talks about a topic that should be considered very important to all small business owners and entrepreneurs, but is ignored by many: taking a vacation. Many small business owners worry that if they take time for vacation they risk losing business, and to avoid the loss of business they just don't take one. However, research suggests that forgoing a vacation, including the psychological and physical health benefits associated with vacation, will not help you or your business.

Some quick facts about taking vacations:
- 66% of bosses worry about their business when they're out of the office and 75% check in by phone or email even when they are on vacation several times a day.
- If there is one thing small business owners can do to improve their companies' performances, experts say, it is take some time off.
- Researchers have found that people who work long hours can even become addicted to their own stress hormones. They feel sluggish when they're out of the office so the head back in for their fix, and the cycle repeats itself.
- Small business people tend to avoid long vacations, but studies show the psychological benefits of vacation start accruing after seven days. It takes most people two or three days just to start relaxing.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that approximately 574 million vacation days go unused by American workers each year.
- The average annual vacation days taken in the U.S. is 13. Compare that to 25 in Japan, 37 in France, and 26 in Germany.
- Studies show that men who take a yearly vacation are 30% less likely to have a heart attack and women are 50% less likely.