With business comes constant challenge. As a business owner or leader, you’re faced with problems to solve and decisions to make every day. Sometimes that responsibility can feel overwhelming and may keep you up at night.

The solution? Take a break!

We’ve likely all had the experience of suddenly being struck, “out of the blue,” with a solution to a dilemma we’ve been wrestling with. It may happen while we’re driving, walking, even taking a shower – an activity that is totally unrelated to the problem at a time we’re not even thinking about it, or so we assume.

Neurologists and brain specialists tell us that 90% or more of our brain activity is not controlled by conscious thought, operating instead at both unconscious and subconscious levels. According to the Neurosity Guide to the Subconscious Mind, the brain can process around 11 million bits of sensory information per second while the conscious mind can manage only about 50 bps.

Sometimes referred to as the unconscious brain, the deepest level of processing regulates life-sustaining bodily functions and basic biological instincts. Often referred to as the subconscious, more than half the brain’s processing seems to occur at this level, including managing pattern recognition, skill building, and storage of memories, beliefs, and emotional responses. This area of the brain seems to be involved in scanning your environment, processing split-second decisions, and may contribute to the activity of making a conscious choice or decision.

Studies are constantly discovering more about how the brain works. As complex as this may be, it’s clear that our brains are always working and always processing, including during sleep. Imagine what taking a break from being constantly “on” can do for your overall wellbeing. Allow your brain to work things out on its own while you enjoy a vacation, hike, or other summer activities.

For our own health and productivity, we all need a break to unplug, recharge, and reset – going without can increase stress and take a toll physically. A change of scenery and activities can provide real recreation, or more accurately, the opportunity for “re-creation.”  Take time to relax, refresh, and reconnect with your authentic self and creative mindset. You might find yourself with a breakthrough solution to a problem you’ve been wrestling with or maybe your next big business idea!

I recommend the same first step to relax and recharge as the first step to exit planning – put it on your calendar. Set aside at least a few hours for respite, a change of scenery, and perhaps an activity that allows your brain to do some processing without pressure from your conscious mind. You’ll likely find you have more clarity, fresh ideas, increased energy, and a renewed enthusiasm for the difference you make through your business.

Bob Zarlengo is a certified exit strategist and CPA. More than four decades of experience in public accounting, expertise in financial reporting, income and estate planning, and tax compliance make him a valued and trusted advisor to his clients.