The stress of being a small business owner can be very taxing, especially when you own several small businesses. Overseeing operations on that scale is nothing short of exhausting, and making sure that the needs of your clients and employees are all being met is guaranteed to leave you drained sooner or later.

Getting trapped under this intense pressure can lead to serious burnout, which can negatively impact your performance and decision making skills, putting the success of your business ventures at risk. This is why it’s so important to take a vacation once in a while, to set aside your responsibilities and refresh yourself in an exotic locale, like I did during my trip to the Amalfi Coast.

A collection of wonderful towns lining the shores of the Salerno Gulf in Southern Italy, the Amalfi coast is nothing short of spectacular. Experiencing the color and character of this region is like living in a painting, spending even a short time in such a masterpiece has made me wish I could go back and witness its majesty every month. The number of people who were also there during my stay would imply my sentiment is easy to share, especially since the other tourists appeared to be from visiting from all across Europe. Indeed, the number of accents I overheard and interacted with made it seem as though every nation had sent a representative to explore and enjoy the Amalfi coast, I guarantee we all headed home with glowing reports of our time relaxing in the region, enticing others to make their own journeys and see it for themselves.

Once you arrive, the first thing you’ll notice first is the beautiful scenery. Verdant green mountains are lined with steep mountain roads, granting a phenomenal view of all the yachts and boats sail to and fro across the shimmering sea. Of course, the next thing you’ll notice are the charming towns, like the first stop on my journey: Positano!

This colorful small town is one of the most popular destinations, and for good reason. While it may have heavy traffic in the busy season, the abundance of fresh seafood, the savory taste of local limoncello, and the palpable culture emanating from the art galleries more than make up for it, to say nothing of the crystal clear seawater awaiting you at the beach. Ah, the beach, now that was what really made this trip worthwhile. Mind you, as a California resident who’s driven up and down CA-1, I’ve seen my fair share of beautiful coastline, yet Positano’s shores still took my breath.

I can only imagine how awe inspiring such a sight must be for someone who’s unaccustomed to seeing similar splendor on a regular basis, but I assure you the good times do not end there. Positano is a precious gem, but it is only one of the treasures the Amalfi coast has to offer. If you have the time, I enthusiastically suggest you check out Ravello, the clifftop town famed for its lush gardens that captured the hearts and inspired the creativity of famous artists, writers, and musicians. There is also Furore, the so-called “town that isn’t” that may lack a central piazza, but more than makes up for it with the Fiordo di Furore, a quaint little beach tucked beside an overhanging bridge that gives off a presence that must be seen to be believed. Amalfi itself, the namesake of the entire region, is a luxurious location with enough resorts and restaurants to meet or exceed whatever vacation requests your heart desires.

After taking in what the Amalfi Coast had to offer, after savoring a most wonderful reward, I was reinvigorated. The trip had been nothing short of spectacular, I was eager to explore similar wonders around the world, but I knew I couldn’t treat myself so lavishly until I’d earned it.

That intense motivation served as wind beneath my wings, I returned home with the energy I needed to return to my many tasks and see to it that my small businesses soared. The many responsibilities that had been weighing me down before I left were now challenges I looked forward to overcoming, my unclouded mind eager to tackle the issues and anxieties I’d been struggling with beforehand.

As I said in one of my previous blogs, the most important project you’ll ever work on is your own life. I know full well how difficult it can be to grapple with the guilt of indulging in expensive trips and handle the desire to devote yourself wholly and fully to your work, but allowing yourself the time to recover from your own determination is the key to sustaining it.

Just remember, a wise entrepreneur avoids overusing their tools so that those tools will continue to last and serve the needs of their business, but the wisest entrepreneurs apply the same logic to themselves.