Working on vacation is the new normal. Roughly half of people feel guilty if they don’t work while on vacation, according to a study of 1,170 by Harris Poll. Another study, by Movchan Agency, found 22% of business owners took no time off in the past year. Of those that do actually book time off, nearly half end up working during their supposed breaks.
But top performers know something that other business owners don’t. While everyone else stays busy with endless check-ins and back-to-back calls, successful entrepreneurs block out time to recharge.
When the pressure builds, they don’t push through. They get out of the office. They take more time off. They work from cafes in Paris and hotels in Dubai. When the grind gets too much, the flight gets booked. Successful business leaders understand that recovery leads to results.
Taking breaks can lead to increased creativity, happiness, and productivity. This isn’t a hack or a strategy to test. Rest is essential for running a business that thrives.
The simple secrets of successful founders
Book a flight before you need one
Most business owners wait until breaking point before they book a trip. They spend their time in the office, getting sucked into tasks that don’t serve them. Every quarter they plan a holiday, but only when they think they’ve earned it. There’s a better approach.
Taking time off equals results. Lock your dates in first and you’ll find a way to make them happen. Parkinson’s law means your tasks fill the time you give them. Give them less time by setting a hard deadline. The approaching flight means you have no choice but to streamline or delegate, and your team will respect your schedule more.
Use the magic of the default mode network
Your brain’s default mode network unlocks ideas when your mind is relaxed. Long walks on sandy beaches or sitting in infinity pools with a book gives space for creative solutions. Open-mindedness leads to new ways of doing things, and a switch in mindset can be all you need to move mountains.
Take trips to gain a shift in perspective and to find answers to your biggest challenges. Your next level up is pleading that you stop doing and start being. Your profit and loss figures can wait. Make space for a change of scene. You’ll solve problems faster than ever with this approach.
Meet new people and gain new ideas
Inspiration flows from new connections. Successful entrepreneurs travel to make friends and build their circle. When was the last time you met someone new? Your coffee shop conversations could be holding the key to your next project. Don’t let being too busy stop you exploring.
Say hi first and see where it takes you. Swap business stories over mocktails. Practice asking questions and getting curious about what others do. Every person has the potential to add value. Take chances, make friends, and watch your world expand.
Create pattern interrupts to unlock productivity
Looking at the same four walls is killing your business gains. The same commute, same restaurants for lunch, same conversations over dinner equal stagnant methods and complacency. Mix up your routine for breakthroughs in your business. Getting up at a different time and finding new places to eat can be enough to unlock clarity. Your best thoughts might come when you least expect them.
Get intentional about smashing your schedule. Try new foods and take in your new surroundings. See what you learn when you change your geography. Switching time zones means switching thought patterns. Say yes to being in new places and watch your brain get to work on finding answers.
Design a life you don’t need to escape from
Don’t swap your nine to five for a 24/7. You don’t need to wait for permission to take a trip. Design your business to let you live how you want to live. Make work fit around your adventures, not the other way around. Create sustainability first, so travel isn’t such a shock.
Smart founders create a perfect repeatable day. A day they love to live, that includes work, health, and proper rest time. Make this day your default. Your business should add to your life, not take away from it. It’s easy when you get intentional about making time to explore and grow.
Your next level sits in switching off
Stop being a prisoner to your business. Take trips before you need them. Let your brain’s default mode network unlock answers. Meet your next collaborator and gain game-changing ideas. Mix up your routine to find clarity. Design your business around your dream life and never look back.
Real success means building an empire that serves you. Book the flight and watch magic happen. Stop letting work be all you do.
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