As a business owner it’s easy to feel like your work is never done – because no matter how much you do, there is always more that could theoretically be done.  Many business owners we’ve spoken with also feel that they have a responsibility to be available to their team and that if they step away they are putting an undue burden on their team.  So, we wanted to hear from a broad range of business owners on whether they take vacations and we’ve shared some of their responses below.

Derren Raser

I do, and I think it’s really important to build time into your work life for self-care, family and keeping yourself refreshed. It’s hard to keep creative juices flowing and to really be present for your clients if you’re always running on fumes. One thing I love about my work is that it has often presented opportunities to travel. When I do travel to an interesting place to work with an out of town client, I will sometimes plan some extra days on one end of my trip for vacation time. Planning a stand-alone vacation is always great, but when things are too busy for this, this is a great strategy for building in this important restorative time. Read more>>

Dani Montoya

Yes! I honestly believe they are a great part of maintaining a balance, clarity, and inspiration in my day to day life. It’s not so much because I need to leave or explore, although these experiences do allow my creativity to think in ways outside of my day to day motions, it’s the ability to disconnect and recharge. Read more>>

Jacki Cohen

I chose this question to answer because I think that vacations can be controversial for small business owners. I say this because if you are a small business owner taking a vacation may give the impression that you are not hard working, determined, and serious about your business. I think the opposite is true. Taking a vacation, taking a break, and self-care are all very important to one’s mental health which translates into being a productive and successful small business. Read more>>

Maxine Billings

Hello, you’re welcome, and thank you very much for having me! Yes, my husband and I take day trips and overnight trips together throughout the year. We also take our family vacation with our adult son each summer. All three of us love the mountains! Our favorite place to visit is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Read more>>

Allan Gonzalez DFW Dance Photography

I do photography as a side gig. My main job from Monday to Friday is to be an executive admin. Photography has blessed me with getting to know so many amazing dancers, directors, choreographers, and more. With my regular work and photography in my extra time, it was hard to find time to take vacations. I’ve been blessed to work as a contractor/photographer with a company that travels to Dallas, Orlando, North Carolina, Chicago every year to do dance competitions and conventions, Read more>>

Alysha Harvey

Absolutely! This was not always the case because I felt as if I could not take time away from work because I was self-employed. After working for several years without a vacation as I built the firm, I realized it was time for a change as my clients take vacations and I deserve one too. I have scheduled vacations and trips every month. I do not care if it is just 2 days a month or 1 day get away, I deserve a break and so does every business owner. I teach and advise my clients how to make trips deductible. Read more>>

Sani Field

This is an interesting question, and one I think is really important. The answer is yes and no. My schedule is super flexible in that I can leave town at the drop of a dime (since all work is done remotely with clients), but my husband’s schedule is less forgiving. While he worked remotely during the 2020 pandemic shutdown and was just as productive, he likes to be in the office when he can. And, let’s face it, with corporate America, paid vacation is accrued over time, so there are some limits there as well. Read more>>

Michael Scott Novilla

You can divide your life into work OR vacation. The old, work OR play. You hear all the time ‘work hard, play hard.’ Well I prefer to combine my life into work AND play. What the difference? Well back in 2012 I took my event business NOVA 535 paperless. Yes, in 2012. That was part of my overall strategy to digitize, and systemize, a the complex live event business. I owe a single venue, the historic 1920 built building we renovated into NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, back in 2008. Read more>>

Kimberly Oberheu

Vacations. Ahhh vacations. I”m a huge believer in these big and mini moments away. To restore, reconnect and replenish our hearts and minds. With a culture today that is over saturated in technology, it has never been more important to break away. And as a nature lover, connecting to natural landscapes is key. Prairies, oceans, mountains, desert all have a mental, emotional and spiritual impact that can be hugely effective for a personal and professional life. Read more>>

Kylie Bynum

Vacationing is so important to me- whether I’m traveling to another country, taking a quick road trip, or just taking extra time at home. Burn out in the work place is so common, and I think if we had a healthier balance of work and life, we’d all be more productive in our careers. I’ve found that working longer days, but fewer days each week in order to set myself up for longer weekends, has really helped me enjoy work and down time more fully. Read more>>

Monica Flores

I love vacations! Being a mom of three girls, I love vacations with my girls and getaways with my husband of 13 years. I think both are equally important! I also take my vacation time to rest physically and mentally. I do not make workouts a priority because I think it is good for my mental health to take a break. Read more>>

Emily Taffel

I started my company so that I would have a better work-life balance, however in the first few years I felt like I was working all the time, and not taking time off, which was quickly leading to me feeling burnt out. By setting very strict boundaries with my clients and employees, and delegating to (and TRUSTING IN) my team to get things done while I am out, I now take several vacations a year. Do I still check in via email a few times while I am away? Yep – I am still a business owner and that’s a hard habit to break, but I have cut it down to working an hour a day max while away and it has been life changing! Read more>>

Ashleigh Coelho

Absolutely! Why work if you can’t enjoy the fun things in life? I feel like if we don’t completely turn off work and relax every so often we can get totally burnt out. I think a balance of work and having time off is very important to your mental health and you will become a better business owner in the end with some R&R every so often! `1 Read more>>

Anita McLeod

We definitely take vacations. I wouldn’t really call them vacations though. More like adventures. I have this bug in me that just loves adventures. Aside from wedding photography, I love to get out in nature, and I have a small obsession with history and ghost towns, and abandoned anything. And Wild horses. My father in law doesn’t call me bucket list for no reason. Read more>>

Russell Montgomery

Yes, I take vacations regularly. I find my mental health suffers severally when I can’t get away. I recently started taking a 2nd day off, and it is a huge help for energy, mental health and having fun outside of work. We have already gotten in the habit of taking weekend trips, for us its Monday – Tuesday, and being able to reset after a couple weeks has really helped. We all know running a small business can be stressful, and the more you are in it, the more it adds up. So getting out of town, unplugging and doing something else you love really helps. Read more>>

Adean Kingston

Vacations are a must! We all need time to recharge and relax! I am an avid world traveler and truly believe experiencing the world first hand is the best classroom! I always have a vacation planned on my calendar – actually a few- it gives me something to look forward too. The past 2 years has been challenging for all of us trying to travel safely and I had to cancel my trip to the Greek Islands twice. I decided not to rebook this trip for the third time until this pandemic is truly behind us. Read more>>

Jess Belfry

Vacations are a chance to reclaim your personal self when life gets overwhelming and hectic. Too often small business owners lose their sense of self because they become so engulfed in what it takes to own and run a business. I used to feel guilty taking a vacation and leaving my employees to carry the heavy load, however what I found is that if I lose my sense of self and succumb to the day to day ‘swamp’ that is so easy to get bogged down in, I am so much less effective in my role. My anxiety was at an all time high in March 2020 when the pandemic shut down our world. Read more>>

Devoney Kelash

I do find it important to prioritize taking a break from work! Sometimes this can be easier said than done! I do my best to plan a few short vacations thru the year, even if its a quick weekend camping trip… just something to break the norm and have a change of scenery and pace of the day! I find this is really helpful for everyone in my family! We like to go camping and boating. It is refreshing to get away whether its one day or 3, or more! Maintaining a better work life balance is a goal always each year for us! Vacations are perfect way to handle this! Read more>>

Yvette Shoemaker

Do I take vacations? Do I? I travel quite frequently with my husband, family, friends. Travel to me is like my self care! If something is going wrong in my life or I feel out of sorts, I can usually blame it on the fact that I haven’t traveled in a while. I love traveling and learning new things about a destination. I try to gather as much information, pics, videos so that I can make my clients feel as if they were on vacation with me. Read more>>

Monica Arellano

Yes, In my line of work I consider it a necessity. Although I can’t do it as often as I would like… To explore different cities, countries, cultures, architecture is fundamental to my creative process. It opens up your mind to realize that the world is vast and so dynamic and eclectic. My travels have definitely influenced my designs 100% and it’s a double whammy (LOL). I get to rest from work and at the same time I get inspired for work. Read more>>

Rocky Frost

During my 47 years of building, starting, owning and operating a small business with my dad and wife, vacations were few and far between. When they were taken, it took a day or two at the beginning to become acclimated. Then the last day or two was thinking about getting back to work at the shop. Since we closed the business and retired a couple of years ago, those several days are not lost during our vacations. Now, I am a full time artist creating my latest paintings, while kayak fishing for fun. Read more>>

Kevin Rivas

Being an owner and design director for my studio it is hard to get away but I have made it a priority to carve out time to get away (although I work remotely when needed). One of my family’s passions is traveling. I believe travel is the most important thing to experience new cultures and enjoy life. My wife and I promised each other we would take some sort of vacation (no matter how small) at least twice a year when we got married. It took a few years after our honeymoon to get up to speed on this promise but we have done quite a bit of traveling over the last decade-plus. Read more>>

Stan Lieberman

Yes, I go on vacation several times a year. My wife and I love to travel and have been to about 70 countries. My interest is to learn about other cultures and to study the history of the country. Whether exploring ancient ruins such as Knossos on Crete or St. Stephens Cathedral in Vienna or Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, these represent facinating historical sites showing us what our ancestors have created. It offers us an insight into the past, and thus lessons for us in the present. Read more>>