The Business of Breaks: Time Off Report 2024

Balancing Happiness and Productivity

Let’s see how taking breaks correlates with business owners’ mental health and efficiency. We measured the number of vacation days they took against their self-reported overall happiness and productivity.

Nearly 1 in 4 business owners (22%) said they took zero vacation days over the last 12 months. The risks of this always-on mindset were clear. About a third (32%) of those who took no vacation reported poor mental health. And that group was a staggering 146% more likely to face those mental health challenges than business owners who took time off.

Ironically, many business owners said they offer their employees unlimited paid time off (PTO), but they don’t always take those same benefits for themselves. About a third (34%) had unlimited vacation policies, yet still only used an average of 9 days last year.

Regular vacations improve overall well-being, and that includes mental health. We found that the happiest business owners took off an average of 10 days in the last 12 months.

So, what makes business owners finally take a break, and when? For over half (54%), it wasn’t until they felt burnt out or noticed a drop in their productivity. Others timed vacations more proactively around business cycles — either during business lulls (40%) or after wrapping intense periods like major projects or busy seasons (19%).

The Ripple Effects of R&R

In this section, we unpack why many business owners have been skipping breaks and dialing back their vacation days, and how it’s affected them in terms of stress, burnout, and personal relationships.

Economic pressures have made taking a vacation feel like a pipe dream for many business owners. Over 6 in 10 admitted to taking less time off than usual in the past year because of inflation.

Men and women business owners were equally likely to report personal relationship strain thanks to skipping vacations. However, women (53%) were more prone than men (46%) to experience increased burnout and stress from relentless, vacation-free work.

Some who managed to get away for a bit struggled to truly recharge. Nearly 3 in 10 owners said they still felt burnt out after their vacations. Over half said lingering concerns about their businesses prevented them from fully enjoying the downtime.

The top stumbling block to taking more time off was financial concerns (72%), while 42% said having no one reliable to keep operations running in their absence was also a problem. Handing over the reins is hard, but delegation is an important skill for business owners. Another one-third feared that being out of office might result in missed business opportunities.

This always-on grind had more substantial consequences in some industries. More than 3 in 10 tech-business owners reported physical health issues due to skipping vacations, while over a quarter said it’s strained their personal relationships.

Blurred Lines Between Work and Rest

In this final part of our study, we explore business owners’ strategies to detach from work during vacations. Despite their best efforts, it can be tough.

Even when business owners did get away last year, many struggled to totally disengage from work. Their top strategies for attempting to disconnect included:

• Limiting phone and email check-ins to a specific time each day (51%)

• Engaging in hobbies/activities that fully occupy their attention (50%)

• Prioritizing self-care activities (43%)

• Completely unplugging from all work devices (35%)

• Setting up an auto-reply for emails (26%)

• Delegating tasks to trusted team members (26%)

But the lure of the inbox proved strong. Over 4 in 5 business owners (81%) said they checked emails while on vacation, with men (82%) being slightly more likely than women (79%) to do so. That could have a big impact on the rest and relaxation they need: Almost all (6 in 7) of those who checked their email while away reported still feeling burnt out after their “time off.”

Nearly half (49%) went so far as to do work-related tasks while supposedly on vacation, and some expected their employees to do the same. Over 1 in 5 said they anticipate team members checking email during vacation, and 1 in 7 expected them to do work tasks.

A full unplug seems very difficult for business owners to achieve. Despite vacation strategies like scheduling digital downtimes and leaning into interesting activities, the pressure to work persists.

Beyond the Hustle

The vacation equation for business owners is anything but simple. Many skip breaks altogether, while others struggle with unplugging from work when taking time off. Not balancing rest and work can impact happiness, health, and productivity. Business owners may need to make a change, evaluating their disconnection habits and prioritizing vacations for themselves and their employees — starting with leading by example. Taking time off isn’t a perk; it’s an investment in the long-term success of both the owner and their business.

Methodology

We surveyed 600 business owners to explore how they navigate taking time off. The gender breakdown was 59% women, 38% men, and 3% non-binary/non-conforming. Among all respondents, 10% worked in the tech industry.

About Clarify Capital

Clarify Capital supports businesses with quick, straightforward access to funding, turning business visions into reality. We understand the business journey and strive to provide the financial backing needed for entrepreneurs to not just survive, but thrive.

Fair Use Statement

If you find the insights in this article relevant to the challenges and opportunities of business ownership, feel free to share this information. We ask that you do so for non-commercial purposes only and include a link back to this page, giving others access to our study’s full context and data.