Mental Yoga: Why Taking a Summer Vacation Might Be the Best Thing You Do for Your Business

If you're like most small business owners, you won't be taking a summer vacation this year. A recent study conducted by American Express found that 59 percent of American small business owners took no vacation at all last summer. Most of those people stayed at work because they were worried about missing new business opportunities, while others were held back by the high cost of vacations themselves. But what if you were to find out that taking a vacation could actually be good for your business? In fact, investing in a summer vacation for yourself could be one of the best business moves you take this year.

Good For Your Mind

First of all, a summer vacation is a great thing to do for your mental health. Spending long hours at work can be mentally draining, and taking a break can help you to clear your head and come back feeling mentally refreshed. Not only is this good for your own sanity, it's good for your business as well. A recent study conducted by Intuit found that 82 percent of small business owners actually perform better at work after taking a vacation. To some, this study might seem like it's simply clarifying what's already obvious, but the plain truth is that most small business owners don't take a vacation in the first place. That means that most entrepreneurs are missing out on the chance to refresh their mind and increase their workplace performance. So what if you miss a few calls while you're away? Your increased performance when you get back will more than make up for a few missed phone calls.

Good For Your Body

As anyone who has ever gone on vacation knows, a summer vacation is good for your body. For some, physical recovery might mean massages and lounging on the beach, while others might simply need some time to sleep in and allow their body to go about its natural rejuvenation process. It's great to give all you've got to your business, but remember that you're not very useful when you're sick, so it's worth taking some time to preserve your physical health.

Good For Your Business

Contrary to what many entrepreneurs seem to think, vacations can actually benefit your business itself, beyond the obvious physical and mental benefits they provide for tired business owners. Why? Because summer vacations often lead to new and innovative business ideas. It might be exposure to a new culture, or simply the opportunity to hear yourself think. Whatever it is, you vacation time is key to clearing your head of the noise of everyday life to make way for fresh ideas. Even if you run your business from a virtual office, it's important to simply "get away from it all" sometimes. It doesn't have to be a long vacation - even a long weekend trip makes a huge difference for you business. Don't feel selfish for taking a vacation. Feel selfish for not taking a vacation, because avoiding your vacation time means that your whole business will suffer.