Burnout is bad for business: How taking time off makes you more successful

When you’re busy trying to manage your business, you might not realize when you’re headed toward major burnout. Many business owners adopt a nonstop work ethic, thinking it’s the way to success, but this mentality can backfire, leading to major health problems and poor business performance.

No matter how pressing your deadlines are, you can’t do everything in a day. Stepping away from your tasks periodically is the key to optimizing your personal and professional performance. It doesn’t matter what you do – you could play video games, read a book, or listen to a podcast – as long as you disconnect.

If you have a habit of skipping regular breaks, here’s why you should reconsider.

1. Burnout causes more than just fatigue

Although burnout sounds like a state of exhaustion, it’s much worse. It’s essentially when your emotional, physical, and mental states collapse because of excessive and prolonged stress. It’s a serious state with serious consequences, and should be avoided at all costs. Here’s the chain of events burnout can cause:

• Decreased productivity. Chronic burnout makes even the simplest tasks feel challenging and sometimes impossible. When productivity takes a dive, the whole business suffers.
• Physical health complications. Prolonged stress can cause heart problems, depression, and weaken the immune system. The worse you feel, the less you’ll want to work.
• Employee turnover. Burned out leaders often create high-stress environments, which can frustrate employees and increase turnover.
• Impaired decision making. When you’re burned out, your decision making ability is clouded, and you’re more likely to make poor business decisions that have negative consequences.
• Stifled creativity. Being exhausted and unable to function can squash your ability to be creative, which makes it harder to innovate and adapt to changes.

2. Breaks help your brain reboot

The human brain isn’t designed for nonstop focus. Your brain needs regular periods of rest to function properly. By taking breaks and days off, you’ll experience higher cognitive function and more mental energy, and your performance will improve.

Your brain needs regular breaks to process and store information. If you’re trying to learn something new, for example, your ability to recall what you’ve learned will depend on your ability to get enough rest. Your brain won’t integrate new information easily into your long-term memory otherwise.

3. Your physical body needs breaks

Working on your business nonstop is mentally taxing, but sitting or standing at a desk all day can take a toll on your physical body. For example, you’ll be at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems caused by stress. Other benefits include:

• Better sleep. Taking time off is an excellent way to regulate your sleep patterns to ensure you get the deep, restful REM sleep required for cellular repair. Good sleep will also help you think more clearly.
• Less risk for musculoskeletal relief. Whether you stand or sit, you’re at risk for musculoskeletal injuries if you don’t take breaks. Incorporating regular movement into your day can alleviate pain and reduce your risk of injury.
• Weight management. Inactivity, along with stress, can contribute to weight gain. Getting up and moving around not only keeps you active, but it helps regulate stress and supports your metabolism.

4. Your mind stays sharper with time off

Whether you’re taking a few days off or going for a full vacation, you’ll be doing your mind a favor. Your mind needs rest to stay sharp, and taking time off is critical. Here’s how time off positively impacts your mental health:

• Less stress and anxiety. If you’re starting to feel stressed or anxious, taking time off can dissolve those feelings by alleviating stress long enough for you to recover.
• Better emotional resilience. The less stress you feel, the easier it is to cope with challenges and setbacks. Emotional resilience is a critical trait for running a successful business.
• Increased work-life balance. Everyone talks about having a work-life balance, but you may not realize how important that is to achieve. Maintaining a balance between your personal life and work life will make you happier overall. If you never take time off work, you won’t find that balance.

5. Vacations provide a deep mental reset

A true vacation will provide you with benefits you can’t get from short breaks. Being able to immerse yourself in a stress-free environment with no concerns or responsibilities for an extended period of time will create a deep mental reset. By the time you return to work, you’ll feel better, and your mind will be functioning at a higher level.

Take time off and come back stronger

Burnout is a major productivity killer that can sabotage your health and your business. Taking regular breaks, including days off, is essential. Time off restores mental clarity, sharpens your decision making, boosts creativity, and protects your physical health. By making sure you’re well-rested, you’ll be more effective, innovative, and resilient.