Today, stress has become a most unwelcome constant in the arena of business leadership. Recent studies paint a stark picture: according to DDI’s Global Leadership Forecast 2025, 71% of business leaders worldwide report significantly higher stress levels since taking on their roles. Another report from Businessolver revealed that 55% of CEOs have experienced negative mental health issues. Broader workforce data highlights the crisis, with nearly 85% of U.S. workers reporting burnout or exhaustion in 2025, and 9 in 10 people facing high or extreme pressure in the past year.
Gallup data highlighted in multiple 2025 reports shows 36% of South African workers experience excessive daily stress, while more than 71% are classified as disengaged at work. This contributes to significant economic costs, with burnout estimated to cost the South African economy around R161 billion annually in lost productivity. Recent data reveals 48% of employees in sub-Saharan Africa experience daily stress, with 28% reporting emotional exhaustion
The Impact on Businesses
The toll is profound. Chronic stress impairs physical health, increasing risks of heart disease, insomnia, and weakened immunity. Mentally, it fuels anxiety, depression, and decision fatigue. For business owners and executives, this translates directly to diminished productivity: burned-out leaders struggle with creativity, strategic thinking, and resilience in facing challenges. Studies show burnout can cost employers enormously in disengagement and lost efficiency, while eroding the sharp focus needed to navigate market volatility or team crises. As the Christmas and New Year break approaches, this period offers a rare window to reset—but only if downtime is intentional and genuine.
What Is Real Downtime?
Real downtime isn’t scrolling social media or answering “quick” emails from the couch. It’s deliberate disconnection that restores the mind and body. Research highlights its benefits: regular rest reduces stress and burnout risk, boosts creativity, strengthens relationships, and enhances cognitive function. It builds psychological resilience, equipping leaders to handle uncertainty better. For busy professionals, the holidays provide an ideal opportunity to practice this, fostering habits that extend into the new year for sustained performance.
Downtime Habits to Develop Better Well-Being
The foundation of meaningful downtime is boundary-setting. Start with no-screen days. Designate at least one full day—or more—without devices. This counters the always-on culture that fragments attention. Tech moguls like Bill Gates have long modeled this: Gates famously takes “Think Weeks” twice a year, retreating to a remote cabin with no screens, just books and reflection. These breaks have fueled breakthroughs at Microsoft, allowing deep, uninterrupted thinking that daily chaos prevents. Similarly, many executives limit screen exposure to recharge fully.
Next, silence communication channels. Turn off work notifications, set auto-replies, and inform your team you’re offline. This isn’t avoidance—it’s trust-building, empowering others while protecting your energy. Arianna Huffington learned this the hard way. After collapsing from exhaustion in 2007 while building The Huffington Post, she became a vocal advocate for rest. Her book Thrive emphasizes sleep and disconnection, crediting these shifts with sharper decision-making and renewed creativity post-burnout. By unplugging, leaders return with clearer perspectives, spotting opportunities they might miss in constant reactivity.
Submerging in nature or physical activity is another pillar. Outdoor time lowers cortisol levels and sparks innovation. Richard Branson, Virgin Group’s founder, prioritizes adventures like kitesurfing or island hikes on Necker Island. He spends afternoons on the beach, often playing chess with family, viewing exercise and nature as non-negotiable for energy and ideas. Branson attributes his prolific entrepreneurship—spanning airlines to space travel—to this balance, saying active downtime keeps him “fueled” for bold risks. Simple walks, runs, or holiday hikes can yield similar benefits, restoring mental clarity eroded by desk-bound days.
Above all, prioritise time with family and friends. Meaningful connections combat isolation, a common leader pitfall. Schedule unhurried meals, games, or conversations without distractions. Branson plays tennis or chess with his children; Gates plays bridge, a strategic yet social hobby. These interactions foster emotional resilience, reminding leaders of stakes beyond balance sheets. Research supports this: downtime with loved ones improves relationships and overall well-being, indirectly boosting work focus.
Be Purposeful in Your Approach
To maximize impact, turn these practices into habits. Start small: commit to one no-screen evening weekly post-holidays. Schedule nature walks in your calendar like meetings. Delegate more to build offline confidence. Over time, this creates a rhythm where rest enhances productivity, not detracts from it. Studies show rested leaders make better decisions, innovate more, and lead resilient teams.
Successful icons prove this works. Gates’ Think Weeks generated ideas shaping tech; Huffington’s wellness shift sustained her media empire and launched Thrive Global; Branson’s playful downtime has sustained decades of disruption. They show vulnerability in prioritizing rest isn’t weakness—it’s strategic.
As 2026 rises on your horizon, embrace this holiday break for true recharge. Disconnect boldly, immerse yourself in nature, cherish connections, and emerge resilient and supercharged for the new year. Your health, team, and business will thank you.
