{"id":2433,"date":"2025-05-26T07:17:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T06:17:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2433"},"modified":"2025-05-21T10:22:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T09:22:14","slug":"its-a-bank-holiday-why-are-you-working-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/05\/its-a-bank-holiday-why-are-you-working-today\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a Bank Holiday \u2013 Why Are You Working Today?"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes : <\/span><\/span>

It\u2019s a Bank Holiday \u2013 Why Are You Working Today?<\/h1>\n

Wait\u2026 aren\u2019t we supposed to be off?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s Monday morning. The sun is (hopefully) out. Your neighbour\u2019s loading up the car for a trip to the beach, and your cousin\u2019s posting smug photos of their BBQ prep on Instagram. And you? You\u2019re opening your laptop, logging into your business emails, and wondering\u2026 why the heck am I working today?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a bank holiday. Most people are off. So why are so many small business owners still working?<\/p>\n

If that sounds like you, don\u2019t worry \u2014 you\u2019re not alone. But let\u2019s have a proper chat about it, yeah?<\/p>\n

What even is a bank holiday?<\/h2>\n

In the UK, a bank holiday is basically a public day off. The banks close, loads of offices shut, and for many people, it means a lie-in, a day out, or catching up on stuff at home.<\/p>\n

But when you\u2019re running your own business, especially a small one, it\u2019s not that simple.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no HR department telling you to take the day off. No timesheets, no clocking in or out. It\u2019s just you, your to-do list, and the never-ending temptation to \u201cjust get one more thing done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why small business owners don\u2019t stop<\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s the thing \u2014 when you run your own business, it can be really hard to take time off. And there are loads of reasons why you might be working today:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • You\u2019ve got client deadlines and can\u2019t afford to miss them.<\/li>\n
  • Your inbox is overflowing, and today\u2019s a quiet day to catch up.<\/li>\n
  • Your business is new, and you feel like every day counts.<\/li>\n
  • You\u2019re worried if you stop, the momentum will drop.<\/li>\n
  • You actually like what you do (weird, right?).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    And yeah, all of that is fair. Totally understandable. But let\u2019s flip the coin for a second.<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s why you probably *shouldn\u2019t* be working<\/h2>\n

    Look, no one\u2019s saying you have to drop everything and head to the beach (unless that\u2019s your thing, in which case, get your towel). But working every bank holiday, every weekend, every quiet moment \u2014 it\u2019s not healthy. Seriously.<\/p>\n

    Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n

    1. Your brain needs a break<\/h3>\n

    You\u2019re not a robot. Even machines need a reboot sometimes. If you\u2019re always on the go, your brain gets frazzled. And when you\u2019re tired or stressed, your work suffers. Ideas don\u2019t flow. Mistakes creep in. That blog post you were writing turns into a ramble (a bit like this one, maybe?).<\/p>\n

    Taking a proper day off can actually help your business. You\u2019ll come back fresher, sharper, and ready to tackle things properly.<\/p>\n

    2. You set the tone for your business<\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019re a solo founder or running a small team, your habits affect everything. If your staff see you online every bank holiday, they\u2019ll feel guilty taking time off. If your clients always get a reply in five minutes \u2014 even on Christmas Day \u2014 they\u2019ll start expecting it.<\/p>\n

    Sometimes, stepping back teaches everyone around you that boundaries matter.<\/p>\n

    3. Burnout is real, mate<\/h3>\n

    Let\u2019s not sugarcoat it. Burnout is a real problem, especially for small business owners. You try to do everything \u2014 marketing, finance, customer service, admin \u2014 and there are only so many hours in the day.<\/p>\n

    Working every spare moment might feel productive, but long-term? It\u2019s a fast track to exhaustion, believe me, I talk from experience here.<\/p>\n

    4. You started this business for freedom, right?<\/h3>\n

    Remember that dream? The one where you quit your job, launched your own thing, and imagined long lunches and weekday lie-ins?<\/p>\n

    Where did that go?<\/p>\n

    If you\u2019re working more hours now than you did in your 9-to-5, it might be time to ask yourself if the balance is off. Because freedom\u2019s not just about money \u2014 it\u2019s about time too.<\/p>\n

    But what if I *have* to work today?<\/h2>\n

    Fair enough. Some businesses need to be open on bank holidays. Maybe you run a cafe, or an online shop with weekend orders. Maybe you\u2019re a freelancer catching up after a busy week.<\/p>\n

    If that\u2019s you, here are a few tips to make it feel a bit less grim:<\/p>\n

    1. Do half a day, not the full nine yards<\/h3>\n

    Even a short break can make a difference. Can you work 9 to 12, then take the rest of the day off? Go for a walk. Watch a film. Sit in the garden with a cold drink. Don\u2019t let the whole day disappear into spreadsheets.<\/p>\n

    2. Choose your own \u2018day off\u2019 instead<\/h3>\n

    Who says your weekend has to be Saturday and Sunday? If you work on a bank holiday Monday, maybe take Tuesday afternoon off instead. Your business, your rules.<\/p>\n

    3. Make it cosy<\/h3>\n

    If you *have* to be at your desk, make it nice. Put on music. Grab your favourite snacks. Light a candle. Sometimes a little vibe goes a long way.<\/p>\n

    Guilt-free chilling: you\u2019ve earned it<\/h2>\n

    Let\u2019s be honest. Half the reason we work on bank holidays is guilt. We feel lazy if we stop. Or we worry we\u2019re falling behind.<\/p>\n

    But listen \u2014 doing nothing is part of doing well.<\/p>\n

    Rest is productive. Breaks are strategic. And time off isn\u2019t a reward \u2014 it\u2019s a right. If you\u2019re running your own business, you don\u2019t need anyone\u2019s permission to take a day off. So give it to yourself.<\/p>\n

    How to stop feeling bad about taking time off<\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019re one of those people who *needs* to be busy (you know who you are), here are a few ways to make it easier to switch off:<\/p>\n

    1. Write a quick \u201cdone\u201d list<\/h3>\n

    Not a to-do list. A \u201cdone\u201d list. Jot down everything you\u2019ve already achieved this week. You\u2019ll realise you\u2019ve earned that break.<\/p>\n

    2. Set an out-of-office message<\/h3>\n

    Even if you\u2019re self-employed, pop on an auto-reply that says you\u2019re away for the day. It stops you checking your inbox every 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

    3. Tell someone you\u2019re taking a break<\/h3>\n

    It sounds silly, but if you say \u201cI\u2019m off today\u201d out loud \u2014 to a mate, a partner, your cat \u2014 it helps you commit to it.<\/p>\n

    4. Plan something fun<\/h3>\n

    Don\u2019t just sit and stare at your phone, feeling guilty. Go do something. Meet a mate. Go for a bike ride. Bake brownies. Whatever works.<\/p>\n

    What if I love working?<\/h2>\n

    Some people genuinely love their work, and that\u2019s brilliant. If you enjoy it, and it doesn\u2019t stress you out \u2014 crack on.<\/p>\n

    But ask yourself this: are you working because you really want to, or because you feel you *should*?<\/p>\n

    Loving your job is fab. Being chained to it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s be real for a sec<\/h2>\n

    This post isn\u2019t here to make you feel bad. You\u2019re running a business, and that\u2019s tough. You\u2019ve got responsibilities, bills to pay, clients to keep happy. And sometimes, bank holidays are just another Monday.<\/p>\n

    But now and then, you\u2019ve got to hit pause. You\u2019ve got to breathe. Eat a nice sandwich. Watch some telly. Hug your kids, your partner, your dog.<\/p>\n

    Because life isn\u2019t just work. And even the most successful business can\u2019t replace rest, peace of mind, or time with people you love.<\/p>\n

    So, go on. Clock off early.<\/h2>\n

    Even if it\u2019s just for today. Shut the laptop. Turn off the notifications. Stick your feet up. You deserve it.<\/p>\n

    And hey \u2014 your inbox will still be there tomorrow.<\/p>\n

    Final thoughts<\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019ve read this far, here\u2019s your permission slip to take a break. It\u2019s okay to rest. In fact, it\u2019s smart. You don\u2019t need to earn it, prove it, or schedule it three months in advance.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s a bank holiday. Take the hint.<\/p>\n

    Go enjoy it \u2014 your business will thank you later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Reading Time: <\/span> 5<\/span> minutes : <\/span><\/span>It\u2019s a Bank Holiday \u2013 Why Are You Working Today? Wait\u2026 aren\u2019t we supposed to be off? It\u2019s Monday morning. The sun is (hopefully) out. Your neighbour\u2019s loading up the car for a trip to the beach, and your cousin\u2019s posting smug photos of their BBQ prep on Instagram. And you? You\u2019re opening your laptop, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-advice","category-general","category-human-resources"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}