Why time off from work is good for your productivity

Here’s a question for all you workaholic SMB owners out there: when was the last time you took time off from work? I’m not talking about a random day off, but a real holiday, far away from your bustling office and stacks of paperwork.  

If you’re struggling to remember, take comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one. A quarter of small business bosses take only five days of holiday per year.

But it’s not something to be proud of, nor something that should be encouraged. You deserve a break. You’ve earned it. And we’re here to tell you why.

Overcoming your time off anxiety

Small business ownership has its drawbacks. Sometimes, you may feel as though you’re the only pillar holding everything – and everyone - in place.

Although, to some extent, this is true (after all, you are the one in charge!), it’s also important to realise that taking paid time off won’t cause chaos. In fact, if you’ve hired the right people, you’ll find that business without you will run just as smoothly. Happy, productive employees appreciate your trust and are always willing to help where they can.

Before jetting off for his honeymoon, our CEO, Matthew, delegated some niggly backend support tasks to the Marketing Manager. To Matthew’s relief, Turbine did not descend into madness while he was away sipping wine on the beach.

So, now that we’ve eased your holiday anxiety, let’s delve into why taking time off can benefit you.

Benefits of time off from work

We strongly believe that work shouldn’t be your life. Having time to relax and recuperate is necessary for your mental wellbeing and productivity.

But, don’t just take our word for it. Here are some facts to consider:

• For every ten hours of leave you take, your performance ratings improve by up to eight percent.
• Working too hard can be damaging for your wellbeing and cause inferior work outcomes.
• Staring at an image of natural scenery for 40 or more seconds can put your mind into a more relaxed state, helping you with cognitive tasks. Imagine what experiencing nature first-hand can do!
• People who don’t go on holiday regularly are more likely to have higher blood pressure and increased levels of stress.
• Burnt out? Taking a four-day long holiday can have a positive effect on your well being and stress levels for as long as 45 days.

Book a holiday: We dare you

We know that work can be stressful; it’s hard to take a step back and let your employees steer the ship. But bosses deserve a break too, and if you’re a good businessperson, your team will continue to fight the good fight, even without you.

So, consider this official permission (from all of us at Turbine) to book some time off from work. We’ve heard Bali is quite nice…