Built Not Born Podcast · 14 March 2025
When Is the Right Time to Take a Break From Work?
Chris and Helen explore when it is time to step away from work, why a break does not always mean switching off completely, and what time away can reveal about the business and the team.
Episode guide
About this episode
Recorded during a short trip to Marrakesh, this episode starts with a question many business owners wrestle with: when is it actually the right time to take a break from work? Chris and Helen talk about their first trip away together without their son and the mix of excitement, guilt and unfinished work that came with it.
Their experience of holidays has changed as their businesses have grown. In the early years of Thread A Pixel, they went several years without a proper trip because so much of the day-to-day work depended on them. Even when they eventually travelled, being away could feel stressful because they were still closely involved in what was happening back home.
A major difference now is trust in the team. Chris and Helen explain that having capable people around them has reduced the worry of stepping away. They also noticed that when they were absent, the team handled issues independently, but similar questions sometimes came back to Chris once he returned. That becomes a useful lesson in delegation: owner availability can sometimes encourage people to check decisions they are already able to make.
The episode also challenges the idea that a break only counts if work disappears completely. Chris and Helen are comfortable taking laptops away, answering what needs attention and even recording the podcast while travelling. For them, the value is often the change of environment rather than a total shutdown. Chris describes how being away gave him fresh clarity around Two Krakens, including its positioning and website direction.
Their wider point is that business owners need to understand how they personally respond to work and rest. Some people may need a complete switch-off. Others enjoy the energy of work and feel more anxious when they try to disconnect entirely. Rather than following a fixed rule, they suggest paying attention to when a change of pace, a few days away or simply some distance from the usual environment would help you return with a clearer view of the business.
Key takeaways
What you'll learn
- There is no single rule for when a business owner should take a break. Chris and Helen argue that it is more useful to recognise your own signals than follow someone else's idea of how much you should work.
- A break does not have to mean switching off completely. For them, handling some work while away can still sit alongside genuine rest and a change of pace.
- Stepping out of the usual environment can create enough distance to think differently about business problems, positioning and future plans.
- Confidence in a capable team makes time away less stressful and gives employees the opportunity to make decisions without constant owner input.
- Time away can expose where a business is still too dependent on its owners, creating a useful prompt to improve delegation and team autonomy.
- Running a business often involves sustained effort, so taking a break and working hard do not have to be treated as opposites.
Questions from this episode
Frequently asked questions
When should a business owner take a break from work?
Chris and Helen's view is that there is no fixed rule. They suggest paying attention to your own energy and recognising when a change of scenery or time away would help, rather than relying entirely on other people's expectations.
Do business owners need to switch off completely on holiday?
In the episode, Chris and Helen say complete switch-off does not suit them. They are comfortable handling some work while away if needed, while still using the trip to change pace and perspective.
Can taking a break improve business thinking?
Chris says being away from the usual environment helped him think differently about Two Krakens and clarify ideas for its website and positioning.
How does having the right team make time off easier?
They explain that confidence in their team reduced the stress of being away and showed that day-to-day issues could be handled without them.
What can owners learn from stepping away from the business?
The episode suggests that time away can reveal where teams are capable of acting independently and where the owners may still be encouraging unnecessary checking or dependence.