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As Memorial Day, the unofficial herald of summer, approaches, the spotlight shifts to the significance of vacation time. However, a recent study conducted by Clarify Capital has unveiled a concerning trend: a substantial proportion of business owners are neglecting their well-deserved breaks. Among 600 surveyed business proprietors, nearly one-quarter abstained from taking any time off in the past year.

Juggling the myriad responsibilities inherent in entrepreneurship often relegates vacation to the back burner. Financial anxieties emerged as a predominant deterrent, with 72% of non-vacationers citing monetary concerns as the primary obstacle. Additionally, over 60% attributed their reduced leisure time to inflationary pressures. However, paradoxically, when businesses thrive and revenues surge, 58% of owners exhibit a steadfast adherence to their work routines, irrespective of the favorable circumstances.

Forbes reported that even those who managed to squeeze in vacation days found themselves tethered to work obligations, as evidenced by the fact that 81% remained tethered to their emails and nearly half engaged in business activities while ostensibly on hiatus. Moreover, a significant portion (52%) reported an inability to fully savor their time off, plagued by persistent business worries. Consequently, a notable 27% admitted to experiencing lingering burnout despite their temporary reprieve.

The ramifications of forgoing vacations reverberate across various domains of business owners' lives, profoundly impacting mental well-being. Those who bypassed leisure time are 146% more likely to report deteriorating mental health. Furthermore, a majority grappled with heightened stress levels, work-life imbalances, physical ailments, and waning enthusiasm for their enterprises. Astonishingly, a modest allocation of 10 days off annually, equivalent to a mere two working weeks, suffices to reverse these bleak statistics.

As May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, leaders bear a responsibility not only to prioritize their own vacations but also to champion mental wellness initiatives within their organizations. GDIT, a business unit under aerospace giant General Dynamics, spearheaded a pioneering mental wellness program in 2021, subsequently earning accolades such as Mental Health America's prestigious Platinum Bell Seal. In an exclusive interview with GDIT President Amy Gilliland, she expounds on the imperative of integrating mental health support mechanisms into corporate frameworks.

"When employees can bring their whole selves to work and they feel supported by their employer, they perform well and the business performs well," Gilliland said. "When they feel like their leaders care about them, they're even more committed, and they come to work healthy-mentally and in their body as well."