If you find that you are consistently not using all of your allotted vacation days or worse, skipping vacation all together you are not alone! A survey conducted by Hotwire shows that the average American leaves 9.2 unused vacation days every year. The United States is known for its citizens hard work ethic.

The term "workaholic" was coined in the U.S in 1964 by a man who worked for Exxon. While it can be said that some workaholics enjoy their work, others often feel compelled to work and get anxious at the thought of what they could be missing if they leave. The pressure we put on ourselves can lead to many negative effects such as stress, anxiety and depression. This is why many very successful business individuals know the value of taking vacation and the positive impact a vacation can have on both your psyche and the workplace. 

Richard Branson, billionaire entrepreneur of Virgin says that, “Inspiration vacations” help him shake things up when he returns to work. He says that with good cause. Research shows that humans need time to relax their minds and reset, or they could begin to suffer from burn out. When one gets "burned out" their productivity suffers. Not to mention that they may also lose motivation which can also impact quality of work and hinder profit.

Vacations mean better productivity, employee retention, higher morale in the workplace and numerous health benefits. Taking the time to decompress is not only good for business but it is also good for your well being, and that, without argument should be your number one priority.

"Vacations mean better productivity, employee retention, higher morale in the workplace and numerous health benefits." 

Many people don't like to be away from the office out of fear of missing important opportunities. Don't let that stop you! If you prepare ahead of time you can enjoy your time away from the office and still be able to check in and see how things were going. For example, if you had BannerOS and were able to check interest inquiries and web traffic from anywhere you might feel a little more eased being away from the office. With smartphones and tablets keeping connected is easier then ever.

Many resorts and hotels offer free wifi or business centers. A recent vacation I took to Hawaii even had free wifi down at the beach! For some it may be easy to simply unplug and check out completely, but for many others it is important that they still be within short reach of contact with employees, employers or customers.

Technology today allows you to be virtually anywhere in the world and still be connected to important business matters. With the right platform and tools, you’ll be able to manage your business AND take time for yourself and your family. Run your business from anywhere, just don’t let your business run you.