5 Breaks Every Entrepreneur Needs to Take Go off the grid (temporarily) and stop feeling anxious about it.

By Jacqueline Whitmore

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

brianjtroyer | Foap.com

When you own your own business, work never ends. There are always more calls to make, more emails to answer and more items in your in-box to sort through. Your to-do list never stops growing.

Related: The U.S. Has Become the No Vacation Nation

This constant busy-ness can make it hard to take an actual break, whether it's a vacation, a day off or just a moment's repose.

But the fact is that you need to take occasional breaks to be effective, productive and content in your work. Sure, the importance of finding work-life balance has become something of a cliché, but that doesn't make it any less important.

Here are five breaks you can take to find and maintain that elusive equilibrium.

1. Go (temporarily) off the grid.

Your computer and cell phone aren't literally implanted in your brain (yet), so you can choose to turn them off once in a while. If the thought of actually going incommunicado elicits a twinge of anxiety, that may actually be a sign of how much you need some Internet-free time.

Whether you take an hour or a day away from the web or your smart phone, don't worry: It'll be there when you get back, along with everyone and everything that's begging for your attention.

2. Get creative.

If you're one of those charmed individuals who feels creatively fulfilled just doing your day-to-day work, congratulations. We all envy you. However, most of us have creative ambitions that we don't get to express in our workaday world to the extent we'd like. If you have creative aspirations in music, art, writing, dance or some other medium, make time to explore them.

Connect with your artistic side, and you will be a happier person and a more creative business owner.

3. Connect with family and friends.

Spending quality time with people you care about and who care about you is time well invested. It pays off in emotional bonds that energize you to reach your full potential and help you weather rough spots when you need a shoulder to lean on. Not only is being with people you love healthy for you, it's also fun.

So, make plans to attend a party this weekend, make a dinner date some night after work or enjoy a concert, play or movie with friends.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Your Team Needs You to Take a Vacation

4. Have an adventure.

When you hear the word "adventure," what do you think of? To some people, adventure means something thrilling: like whitewater rafting, skydiving or bungee jumping. For others, the perfect adventure involves camping, an epic bike ride or a road trip. Take a sabbatical if you've been longing to spend some quality time with yourself.

Whatever it is that quickens your pulse and stirs your imagination, make the leap from dream to reality by doing it. Not only is seeking adventure fun and energizing, but it can help you see life more as an adventure.

5. Take a vacation.

A vacation is one of the best breaks from the ordinary you can get because it takes you out of your usual work environment, so you're no longer constantly surrounded by cues that remind you of work. Ideally, vacation is also a time when you take a break from the daily grind, and just try to relax and have fun.

But getting away from it all can also give you a new perspective on work and life that inspires you to make positive changes. If your budget doesn't allow a fullblown vacation, go on a "stay-cation." This means staying close to home and doing what makes you happy.

Taking breaks from work actually makes you more productive than working nonstop because it gives you time and space to live more fully and find out what makes you happiest. Some of the insights you get during breaks may change the way you live and work, making both your business and your life better.

Related: More Than Half of Americans Haven't Taken a Vacation in the Past Year, Study Shows

Wavy Line
Jacqueline Whitmore

Author, Business Etiquette Expert and Founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach

Jacqueline Whitmore is an etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach in Palm Beach, Fla. She is the author of Poised for Success: Mastering the Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals (St. Martin's Press, 2011) and Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work (St. Martin's Press, 2005).

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

My Startup Scored a Multimillion-Dollar Contract With a Fortune 100 Client in Just 3 Years. Here's What We Learned.

There's no perfect litmus test to gauge if you're ready to go after big business or not — but if you don't take the risk, you'll never realize the reward.

Marketing

5 Questions to Ask a PR Pro Before Hiring Them

You probably haven't considered asking these questions, but they're a great way to find the right PR firm for your business.

Marketing

This Location-Based Marketing Technique Is the Key to Boosting Retail Sales

Let's take an in-depth look at geofencing marketing and how it's helping retail locations drive foot traffic and boost sales.

Growing a Business

The Inevitable Challenges You'll Face as Your Business Grows — and How to Handle Them

There's going to be some discomfort as your business expands, but it doesn't have to stop you from achieving massive success.