Why Smart Leaders Bench Themselves Before They Burn Out
Stepping back isn’t weakness—it’s strategy. Take a break to come back stronger, sharper, and more successful.
Welcome back to The Deal Space where business isn’t just a game - it’s a full contact sport.
We have one big purpose here - to win more or learn trying.
Today’s Topic: Looking after yourself
Reading time: ~2 minutes
Today At a Glance
Why taking a break helps you level up by:
Improving health,
Boosting productivity and engagement, and
Letting the big ideas find you.
I just returned from a family holiday.
Holidays are a beautiful thing, especially when you lean into them.
I completely disconnected and I’ve returned excited, energised, and sharp - and I’m ready to attack my goals and get back to my routine and rhythm.
A few years ago, I learned the hard way that pushing through exhaustion doesn’t make you a hero—it makes you a liability.
I used to make the mistake of thinking my bosses wanted to see me busily buzzing around - always on, never off, saying yes to every task, getting worked up about the injustices of the world, and trying to right all the wrongs.
One year it was approaching year end, and I hadn’t taken any time off yet. My boss had been prompting me to take a break, but I saw it as weakness, and I just charged on. Rookie error.
An annoying event happened that any normal person would consider a normal any other day happening…but I snapped. Acted like a real looney tune. I’d reached a point where I couldn’t see straight. I couldn’t get out of my own way. I was out looking for fights, to pay for them and get some change.
My boss at the time, who is a wonderful mentor, very calmly said to me:
“Dan, you love sports. So let me give you a sports analogy.
You know sometimes professional athletes are rested early in games or for a week off?
They do that so that they don’t get injured and have to sit out the rest of the season.
Well, like them, I need you to know when you should sit on the bench, so you don’t get taken out of the game, or have to sit out the season.
Boom. Game changer. Great advice.
I didn’t need more hustle. I needed rest. And as it turns out, science backs this up.
These are two key benefits to taking time off:
1. Health
Burnout Reduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon, and studies show that taking vacations reduces stress and prevents burnout, leading to better long-term job performance1.
Heart Health: The Framingham Heart Study found that men who didn’t take holidays were 30% more likely to have a heart attack than those who did. For women, the risk increased by 50%2.
Better Sleep: A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that holidays improve sleep quality, reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), and help people feel more rested3.
2. Productivity & Engagement
Increased Creativity: A study found that employees who take regular breaks, including vacations, experience a 40% boost in creative problem-solving4.
Higher Engagement: A Project: Time Off study found that employees who take vacations are more likely to get promotions and report higher levels of job satisfaction5.
Improved Focus: Research from Cornell University shows that people who take time off return to work with better concentration and decision-making skills6.
One Last Thing
Did you know that the power of disconnection is so strong it can lead to the biggest of ideas?
Lin-Manuel Miranda thought up Hamilton (the musical) while on holidays. “It’s no accident that the best idea I’ve ever had in my life — perhaps maybe the best one I’ll ever have in my life — came to me on vacation,” he shared. “The moment my brain got a moment’s rest, Hamilton walked into it.”
I rest my case.
Q&A
What’s the best idea you’ve ever had while on a break?