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.

Sami Jo Lien

I think travel is SUPER important because it takes you out of your routine and your element and freshens your perspective. It brings movement, new scenery, delicious food and pulls so many stresses of home off of your plate for a time so that you can slow down and really enjoy the things around you. Read more>>

Chigiy Edson

I work 24/7 running a dog boarding business. I started my business 15 years ago so I could stay at home with my kids who are now grown. I have kept it small, since I am the sole proprietor and I want to keep the business in my home where I can also write and make art. Some people say that they work 24/7 but I actually do. My business model is keeping my client’s dogs in a loving, cage-free environment. The dogs have the run of my house and my yard. Some of the dogs even sleep on my bed at night. Because of this, I am usually woken up several times a night. I truly do care for my client’s dogs like my own morning, noon and night. I am home all the time and I can get a little stir crazy. Read more>>

Kim Riera

As someone who runs a vacation rental business, you’d think I’d be the first to take a getaway. But in the early days, I was glued to my phone—answering inquiries at midnight, troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues from a dinner table, and checking reservation calendars like my life depended on it. The irony wasn’t lost on me: I was creating beautiful escapes for other people while feeling like I couldn’t take one myself. Read more>>

April Floyd

“As a business owner managing six enterprises simultaneously, I have never experienced a vacation that wasn’t related to my work. After my cancer diagnosis, my greatest regret was not having a genuine vacation. Now that I am cancer-free, my primary wish is to take a real vacation, entirely free from work commitments. This new chapter in my life allows me to see the glass as half full, adopt a more optimistic outlook, and enables me to pursue experiences that truly reflect living, rather than merely being alive.” Read more>>