Many of us (myself included) have some degree of difficulty leaving work behind, letting go and allowing ourselves to have a real vacation. In fact, there are many people I know who are employed, have paid vacation time available to them, and still don’t take it. It just keeps accruing. Then, those of us who have a business, or are self-employed in some capacity, feel that if we took time off, our business would suffer. We fear that we’d fall too far behind and/or lose clients and customers to competitors who are out there marketing 24/7, 365 days a year.

Even when we do manage to get away, how many of us take our computers and business cell phones with us and spend a great deal of that vacation actually working? We just can’t seem to let it go. Now I know that for many of us, the fact remains that we love our work. It’s deeply fulfilling and at times exciting. We don’t want to let go of something we love and embrace the "unknown"…even for a short time.

However, I’ve recently come to see the error of my ways. On a recent week-long family vacation, I took my computer and worked the first few days for at least three hours a day (my husband, by the way, did as well, while our kids basically vegged in front of the TV.) Then, after a few days of adjusting to a different environment, enjoying doing different things my kids, and absorbing the beauty and peace around me, I felt a shift happen within me. For one, it became easier to remain in a state of gratitude, and that, in and of itself, created a space for me to experience the benefits of a true vacation.

Below is a list of ten reasons why you should take a vacation; and when you do, how to approach it so that it can actually improve your business and your life.

1. Seeing life from a new perspective. You are no longer surrounded by the familiar. Particularly if you go to a place that is new, it takes some time to "get your bearings." You are forced to let things go and let life flow. This is a good thing. Letting life take us on an adventure allows us to loosen our control; to loosen our grip on how things "should" be. We begin to take in a fresh perspective on our relationships, our environment, our work and even ourselves. We open to new and perhaps innovative ideas. It’s quite possible you will come home with a new creative solution to a problem, an innovative product idea, or a fresh approach to marketing. (And yes, you can bring along a little notebook or journal to jot down some of these new ideas. You’ll have time to flesh them out when you get back.)

2. Breaking up the routine. We are all creatures of habit. Slipping into a routine is as easy as sinking into a lounger. We get comfortable being in the same house, taking the same route to work, the grocery store and our kids’ school, and doing our tasks in the same way. It may be boring, but it’s familiar. This leads to becoming complacent in our relationships and our work by doing things the same way, everytime. It’s healthy to break that up once in a while and try something new. You never know what wonderful new thing you can learn by breaking from routine. You never know how expanded your life could be until you break free and try something fresh.

3. Reconnecting with your spouse, your children, your family, your friends or your Self. Whoever you choose to go on a vacation with (even if you choose to go alone) you have the opportunity of getting to know those close to you better and to appreciate them more. Particularly within our family, we have duties, responsibilities and a busy life attending to our "to do list" that we don’t usually have the time to really "see" those around us. However, on vacation we may suddenly notice how resourceful our spouse is, for example, or how beautiful and creative our children are, or how full of life we truly are. We now have the opportunity to observe and enjoy. We also have the time to talk, clear the air and resolve issues. This can be tricky of course, but if we approach these opportunities from a place of love, we can discover a richer, deeper and more rewarding dimension to our relationships.

4. Healing the mind and body. Vacations are a great time to unwind and allow yourself to slip into deep relaxation. Our bodies work hard and serve us well. It supports us while we share our unique gifts in the world. The better we take care of our bodies, the longer and more successfully it will serve us. Deep relaxation is a powerful healing force that improves our immune system, and acts as a healing balm in every cell and function of our body. Make sure your vacation allows for periods of deep relaxation.

5. Hearing another voice besides the ego. Sometime we get so wrapped up in doing things "our way." We believe our way is right because we have done it that way for so long and it works to some degree. On vacation, we have the opportunity of relaxing our ego and hearing other voices and other possibilities about how thing could be done. Often these new ideas can make a quantum difference in our business and our lives.

6. Sensing timelessness. Vacations, particularly if you resist the temptation to book yourself every moment of the day on tours or activities (and I’d highly recommend you do resist that temptation), you can benefit from a sense of timelessness. We get so trapped in time. How many times a day do you check your watch, cell phone or clock and realize you need to hurry it up or rush off to make it somewhere on time. Is that not exhausting and stressful? A vacation is your chance to let that go and realize there is more to life than following the dictates of the clock. It’s amazing how long and enjoyable the day and evening really can be when we’re in the present moment, just living.

7. Discovering skills you never knew you had. Who knew I could learn to windsurf at my age…and do it pretty well? I didn’t until my daughter said she wanted to try windsurfing, and I went along for the ride. Do you have talent you never knew you had, like rock climbing, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving or speaking a foreign language? You’ll never know till you try. Vacations give you a perfect opportunity to do just that. You’ll feel pretty good about yourself for even trying, and who knows…you may discover a life-long passion!

8. Connecting with Nature. Particularly if your vacation includes being in nature, you have the opportunity to benefit from connection to the life force. The same life force that created you also creates and sustains trees, flowers, water and mountains. One of my favorite poems by the Indian poet Tagore, goes like this, "The same stream of life that runs through the world runs through my veins night and day and dances in rhythmic measure...It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth into numberless blades of grass, and breaks into tumultuous waves of flowers." Try meditating on this poem for a few minutes while you are in nature.

9. The opportunity to play and enjoy. You’ve hopefully picked a vacation you will enjoy. And, although stuff happens on a vacation and things don’t always go as you planned (which is sometimes a good thing!) the opportunity to play and enjoy is a prime motivating factor for going in the first place. Playing increases our creativity. And creativity is essential to our work and our relationships. Joy is an energy that enhances your immune system, improves your relationships and attracts more good into every area of your life. Allow yourself to play. Revel in joy. Soak it in. Celebrate it!

10. Enhancing Gratitude. Lastly, but certainly not least, vacations make it easier to practice proactive gratitude. Practicing daily gratitude can transform your life. When we are freed from our daily chores and are seeing new sites, tasting new food and experiencing new adventures, it’s so much easier to feel and express appreciation. We can appreciate the beauty around us, the time we have to share with our friends or family and the peace we feel. See how many things you can be grateful for. Make it a game.

I’ll bet you can now think of even more reasons to take a vacation. So what are you waiting for? Plan a trip and go! I guarantee you will return a more peaceful, joyful, creative, innovative and richly blessed human being.