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.

Jessie Carrubba

Definitely! The wedding industry shuts down for a couple of months during the winter season so I use this as an excuse (not that I should need one, wedding vendors work so damn hard) to vacay somewhere warmer. If you let your work consume you 24/7 it will never end. I have to acknowledge that there is always work to be done – I will occasionally engage in some basic brand development activities over the break. It’s a useful time to recoup and redefine your direction. Overall, it’s mainly a time for my personal life to take the wheel and be the driving force behind what I do, so that’s what I make of it. Read more>>

David Garcia Casado

Yes, I do take vacations. First of all a vacation implies the idea of “vacating” meaning, leaving empty. I believe it’s very healthy to empty yourself and make room for new things to come and also maybe to change a few of the things you were doing. Being disconnected from your usual activity leaves a gap for you to see better what where you doing just out of habit. Read more>>

Heather Heckel

Giving oneself downtime and breaks is good for mental health, work-life balance, and is an essential part of the creative process. A lot of our best ideas come to us when we’re not actively trying to think of them. I love to travel, and am proud to be an artistic advocate for our National Parks, so I found a way to combine my interests with my vacation time. I’m an art educator, so I get the summers off, and decided to turn my time off from work into a way to pursue my passions. The National Park Service offers a variety of artist residency locations. They usually provide housing for around 2 weeks, and the artist will create art inspired by that park site. The artist is also expected to conduct at least one public program, and donate a finished piece of artwork at the conclusion of the residency. Ultimately, I keep things going by working on my art when I can, even if it’s for only 5 minutes a day–it comes down to time management, and giving myself permission to have downtime to recharge. Read more>>

Tara McKelvey

Absolutely! Travel is a HUGE passion of mine. I grew up in Germany for a decade (my dad was in the military) and I grew a true love for Europe. The castles, food, culture and sights are honestly magical! I have a growing bucketlist of places that I want to see in my life-time. I became a virtual assistant so I would have the freedom and flexibility to travel when I want! Read more>>

Anne Marie Wells

Without a doubt, I take vacations! As an author and illustrator, creativity is vital to my business, and the reality is that sometimes I feel my stores of creativity running low. I find vacations to be some of the most rewarding opportunities to refill my creative reserves. Read more>>