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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Heidi Scrimgeour

‘Productivity increases’: why taking time out is crucial for business success

A man at a table with a computer in a bright modern classical room.
Many business owners worry that taking time off means time lost. Photograph: Dima Sikorski/Stocksy United

It’s easy to get sucked into a ceaseless way of working. Today’s world often seems designed to stop us from switching off. This is especially true for small business owners who can’t always readily clock off. When you’re dealing with multiple pressures and competing priorities, it can be tempting to favour speed over quality or efficiency – even though that can end up costing more time, energy and money in the long run.

But while many of us might be vaguely aware that there are better ways to approach work, sometimes it can help to take wisdom and inspiration from small business owners who have actually made a point of working less incessantly.

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