Taking a Vacation: When to Take a Vacation as an Entrepreneur

by | Nov 20, 2019 | Business Excellence, Personal Development

A pair of black leather dress shoes are placed on sandy ground. Next to the shoes, barefoot footprints lead away into the distance, as if someone has walked away barefoot, perhaps taking a vacation. The sunlight casts soft shadows on the sand.

When people think of vacations in the corporate world, two reasons contribute to them. One, employees consider vacations to be a reward after working their backs off in a project. They think it a gift for the immense work they put in. Two, vacations are considered to be a way to manage one’s energy. It’s common knowledge that everyone has rhythms of respite and work. This need for respite means that we can’t maintain a work streak without breaking down. By taking a vacation, we get to rest and recharge. Now, considering these two notions, the first notion seems right for employees: to embark on a vacation after the completion of a project. However, this does not apply to entrepreneurs or individuals in self-employment. Here’s why:

Why entrepreneurs shouldn’t take a break after completing a project

One, entrepreneurs don’t look at vacations to feel that vacations are a reward. Instead, their motivation stems from within. The act of working in their own business and getting results is a reward in itself. This drive is why most entrepreneurs manage to clock in long hours in their ventures.

Two, going on a vacation has the potential to lead entrepreneurs into losing their momentum. The rule of thumb is that with wins comes energy. When you strike on success, you are likely to stumble on more success. For this reason, acting after a win will boost your momentum. On the other hand, being inactive will weaken it. In short, going on a vacation after a victory can be detrimental to your business.

Three, taking a vacation can cause missed opportunities. When you achieve a goal, it changes things for your business. You start to see opportunities around you, and this demands you take action on them. It is not taking a vacation.

When to Take a Vacation

Now, all this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take a vacation as an entrepreneur. On the contrary, it’s not healthy to work non-stop. So when should entrepreneurs take a vacation? They should go on a vacation when they are tired. With a vacation, they can be able to manage their energy. Besides, when you’re exhausted, and you keep on working, you end getting less effective and efficient. You find it hard to focus, and you take a longer time to get work done.

For this reason, you should take a break when you start exhibiting signs of fatigue.