Why Business Owners Need to Take a Break - Without Guilt
- Milesh Lakhani
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
When you run your own business, especially in property, it can feel like there’s never a good time to take a break.
There’s always something to do:
A contractor to chase
A project to check on
An investor to update
Another spreadsheet to fine-tune
And because you’re wearing all the hats; director, manager, negotiator, fixer, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if you stop, everything else will too.
But here’s what I’ve learned, both through experience and from the business owners I coach:
Not resting is what burns you out. Not resting is what kills creativity, clarity, and confidence.
The Guilt That Comes with Stepping Back
It’s common for entrepreneurs and property professionals to feel guilty when they take a break. Guilty for switching off. Guilty for choosing rest. Guilty for stepping away from the momentum.
But guilt doesn’t build businesses, strategy does. And the truth is, rest is part of that strategy.
Rest Is a Business Decision, Not a Weakness
When I left the corporate world and went all-in on building my property businesses, I believed rest was for people who weren’t pushing hard enough.
But over time, I realised that building a sustainable business, one that supports your health, your relationships, and your vision, requires intentional recovery.
Taking a proper break allows you to:
Think long-term instead of constantly firefighting
Reconnect with the people and values that matter
Return to your business with energy, clarity, and focus
You Didn’t Start Your Business to Work 24/7
Most of us got into property or business ownership for freedom. Freedom to choose how we spend our time. Freedom to prioritise our families. Freedom to say no when something doesn’t align.
But if you’re not careful, the very thing you built for freedom becomes a prison, a never-ending cycle of tasks, targets, and to-dos.
If your business only works when you’re constantly “on” - you don’t have a business, you have a job you can’t quit.
What Taking a Break Can Look Like
Taking a break doesn’t have to mean vanishing for 3 weeks in the Maldives (although that’s nice too).
It could be:
A full weekend off ,phone away, emails ignored
A solo day for reflection and planning
A proper holiday where you trust your systems and team to run things
The key is permission. Giving yourself permission to recharge without guilt.
Final Thoughts
Rest isn’t a reward for burnout, it’s a requirement for longevity.
If you want to lead with clarity, make smarter decisions, and build a business that’s sustainable and successful…then rest needs to be part of your strategy.
At The Property Edge, we believe in building businesses that give you more freedom, not less.
If your business feels like it’s running you — let’s talk. A free clarity call could be your first step toward building better.
Comments