While half of Australia is posting beach pics and debating whether it’s too early for a mid-morning beer, many small business owners are doing the opposite. Laptop open. Phone buzzing. Brain stuck on cash flow.

New research from AMP Bank GO paints a pretty familiar picture: small business owners aren’t switching off, even when the rest of the country is on pause. In fact, one in four say they don’t even have time to take a holiday, and half are reluctant to take time off at all because they’re worried about what might happen if they do. Does this sound uncomfortably close to home?

The ‘always on’ trap

According to the research, a whopping 90 per cent of small business owners are thinking about work outside typical hours. One in three say they’re thinking about it constantly.

This is happening while employees now have a legal right to disconnect. Small business owners, on the other hand, are still glued to their phones, and checking their emails, even when they’re meant to be recharging.

It’s the classic paradox of running your own show. You go into business for freedom and flexibility, then find yourself working longer hours than ever.

Holidays that aren’t really holidays

Even when small business owners do manage to get away, many don’t actually switch off. Half say they’re reluctant to take time off because they’re worried about the impact on their business. One in four say holidays just aren’t an option.

That might mean answering emails from the campervan, checking invoices by the pool or ducking out of a family lunch to take a client call. Relaxing? Not so much. Business owners report that the stress doesn’t stop just because they’ve changed locations.

Business strategy? What’s that?

One worrying finding from the research is how little time many business owners have to step back and plan.

Two in five aren’t planning effectively for the future, only managing to think strategically once a year, or not at all. Of those who don’t regularly plan, the main reason was that it was seen as “not important”, followed closely by too much admin and not enough time.

The implication is that when you’re constantly in the weeds, it’s hard to lift your head and ask the bigger questions. Where is the business actually heading? What needs to change? What can be simplified?

Without that space, everything stays reactive.

Admin overload

If it feels like you spend more time doing paperwork than running your business, the data backs you up.

Almost half of small business owners say they spend too much time on financial administration. More than half are dedicating over six hours a week to admin tasks, and 60 per cent are sacrificing personal time or weekends just to stay on top of their finances.

Over a third don’t think they’re working as efficiently as they could. Which usually means they’re working harder, not smarter.

Cash flow anxiety is the real sleep killer

At the heart of all this stress is money worries.

Seven in ten small business owners worry about cash flow. Six in ten worry about being able to pay their bills. Add in unpredictable demand, which 40 per cent say they’re dealing with, and it’s no wonder switching off feels impossible.

When you don’t feel confident about what’s coming in and going out, relaxing can feel irresponsible rather than restorative.

John Arnott, Director of AMP Bank GO, says the constant hustle just isn’t sustainable.

“Small business owners deserve a break. The hustle never stops, but taking even a short pause can be the difference between surviving and thriving in the year ahead,” he says.

“The new year should be about setting yourself up for success. A few hours of reflection now can pay dividends all year long, but only if owners have visibility over their finances and confidence to switch off.”

So what’s it all mean?

This isn’t about telling small business owners to “just relax” or “take more holidays”. It’s about recognising that being always on is a structural problem, not a personal failing.

Better systems, less admin, clearer cash flow visibility and realistic planning time all play a role. Because when everything relies on you being constantly plugged in, burnout isn’t a risk. It’s a given.

And let’s be honest. No one does their best thinking when they’re exhausted, stressed and checking their bank balance at midnight.

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