In my early days as a founder, when I launched the first e-commerce business in Australia during the tech boom, I lived and breathed the hustle. Sixteen to seventeen-hour days were the norm. Weekends weren’t for relaxing; they were prime catch-up time, free from meetings and interruptions. I believed that more hours equalled more success. And, to be fair, the results seemed to back that up – we grew 300% year on year.
I didn’t take a single holiday for several years. I thought that was the price of success – that if I didn’t keep going, the momentum would stop. I drew inspiration from people like Bill Gates, who famously said, “I never took a day off in my twenties. Not one.” That sounded like the gold standard for founders. Constant motion. Relentless work. No letting up.
But then I took a proper break for the first time.
And I came back twice as efficient.
Seriously, I had the same workload, but I was faster, clearer and sharper. That holiday reset something in me. I stopped running on fumes and started operating with focus. I wasn’t putting in the same insane hours but I was getting more done. That was the lightbulb moment: switching off doesn’t slow you down – it supercharges you.
Switching off isn’t optional
Even after that, I didn’t get it completely right. On future holidays, I’d tell myself I’d only work “25% of the time.” I’d check a few emails or take a quick call. That ‘quick call’ often turned into a two-hour meeting. I’d return from holiday feeling just as mentally tired as when I left.
Eventually, I learned to truly switch off. I now tell my team to escalate only if it’s urgent. Otherwise, I disconnect and come back recharged and ready.
The lesson is that founders must learn to protect that mental reset time. Whether it’s a week-long holiday or an hour-long workout, some downtime is essential.
Why it’s hard (and how to fix it)
If you’re a solo founder or at the idea stage, switching off feels impossible. I get it. But the trick is to plan for it. If you don’t schedule breaks, they won’t happen. I used to leave my weekends open, thinking I’d relax. Instead, I’d end up working the entire time. Once I started putting real plans in my calendar – lunch with family, a countryside day trip, skiing lessons, even golf – I had a reason to step away.
These weren’t grand gestures. They were small commitments: five minutes daily on Duolingo, a chapter of a book over breakfast, a one-on-one photography lesson. But those moments were key. They pulled me out of the business just long enough to reset my mind.
Over time, I started building breaks into my routine in the same way I planned hires, product sprints, or fundraising. I even began planning holidays months in advance, something I never did in the early years.
Burnout is bad for business
We glamourise the grind in startup culture. But building a business is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re always running flat out, you’ll eventually hit a wall. Burnout isn’t just personal – it affects your judgment, your leadership, and, ultimately, your company’s success.
Founders aren’t machines. We don’t just need time off – we need it strategically. So when you’re mapping your growth plan, fundraising milestones, hiring timeline and product roadmap, ask yourself, where’s the space to breathe? Where have you built in time to reset, recharge, and come back stronger?
Because the truth is, when you switch off, your business switches on.
