July 4th, 1776. The Declaration of Independence, a document announcing our independence from England had just been signed by 56 courageous men. Afterwards, they all headed over to Thomas Jefferson's for a big party. They patted each other on the back around the grill, tossed back a couple of cold ales and threw the old football around. Meanwhile that crazy nut John Hancock nearly burned his wig off lighting firecrackers.

Well, not quite.

Even though the Declaration had been signed, things were far from settled. The Revolutionary War was still going on, and wouldn’t end for another seven years. Fourth of July celebrations didn't become a “thing” until after the War of 1812, and ever since it's been the United States' favorite summer party.

Did you know that a survey of small business owners found that about 50% only take major holidays off—or that many take NO DAYS OFF AT ALL? Here are 6 great reasons that you should take at least one vacation each year:

1. Relieve stress. Studies show that you can feel the effects of lower stress up to five weeks later.
2. Improve productivity. You'll come back feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with renewed energy and creativity.

Many Americans are making big Memorial Day weekend plans—visiting family, having a backyard cookout, or checking out the big sales at their local car dealership. But don't forget to take some time out to remember what Memorial Day is all about, and find some way you can pay your respects.

The first specific “Memorial Day” observance was held after the American Civil War, to honor the 600,000 soldiers from both sides who died during that conflict. While Veteran's Day is a day to celebrate those in the armed forces who have served, Memorial Day is set aside to remember all the men and women who never returned home.

Okay, so maybe that isn't the sentiment that typically occurs to you at tax time each year. If you're one of those people who usually procrastinates just a bit.... puts off gathering those receipts because there's “plenty of time yet”.... let's try to change things up. Here are some tips and advice to make filing a breeze this year:

Find last year's tax return. This is a good guide to what you'll need for this year's return. Look it over and note any changes; maybe you have new machinery this year or retired the old computer, which will affect your depreciation. Just looking through the paperwork may remind you of questions you had for your CPA or tax preparer.

There was a time when stores would boast: "If we don't have it, you don't need it." In today's world, if a shopper can't find what he wants at the mall (Black Friday, anyone?), he can make an online purchase on his phone in the mall parking lot within minutes of leaving the store (or maybe save it for Cyber Monday!). However, the long lines and large crowds at the stores during the holidays attest to the fact that not everyone shops online. So why do people face those maddening swarms in the department stores and malls, when they could so easily sit at home in their pajamas and browse the internet?

Want instant gratification?

Going into an actual store and making a purchase means you don't have to wait and see if what you're buying is what you really want. It's so much easier to see that you're choosing the right color or size when you're physically in front of the item. Shopping online, unless it's an item you're already familiar with, can be akin to spinning a roulette wheel.

Since the beginning of its history, the United States has relied on its veterans, men and women willing to put their lives on the line to defend the freedom of others. Our national holiday Veterans’Day is set aside to honor and commemorate these courageous individuals, and is a wonderful opportunity to be able to thank a veteran for his or her service.

In an increasingly busy and chaotic world, stability has become a precious commodity. How do you find stability in a market that can change in the blink of an eye where the skills you learn are obsolete as soon as you’ve mastered them?

Pam Slim, award-winning author, business coach and creator of the blog Escape from Cubicle Nation believes she has some of the answers.  

Your body of work extends far beyond your resume, she says. You are everything you do in life. For an individual, your body of work is everything you create, contribute, affect or impact. It is the story of your life and everyone you’ve interacted with along the way. For a company, it is everything they have contributed during their history, whether it is their products, services, idea or values.

Time.

Why do we hate it so much? We spend it  indiscriminately. We waste it. Sometimes, we even try to kill it. Then when we run out of it, we complain there’s not enough of it to go around. It’s the most precious resource we have. With time, new relationships can be forged from the ashes of old ones. Entire fortunes can be made, lost and made again. 

Time. We don’t get it back. Ever.

So what are some ways to manage this most valuable of resources? 

Be proactive. You’re rarely confronted with a full-blown crisis that erupts out of nowhere. Almost every problem starts small. By anticipating them, you can deal with them with a much smaller amount of effort. Examine your processes and look for problem spots, even if they seem inconsequential. What may take you only a few minutes to solve now, can frequently take hours or days to solve later. It may seem like a hassle to replace a leaky water cooler sitting near the electrical cabinet, but that’s nothing compared to the nightmare of your company server taking one last water-logged breath and then dying. 

When we left for Pine Point Beach in Maine for a few days of R&R, I had high hopes of doing some research I’d been wanting to do in between relaxing on the beach and generally chilling out.

That was Tuesday.

On Sunday, I was shocked to realize our time away was slipping like sand through an hourglass. I completed only about ¼ of my research and didn’t really start relaxing until Friday. Clearly my plans and my execution were not in sync.

We come across these headlines all the time: “How Your Desk Job is Killing You,” “10 Easy Exercises You Can Do at Your Desk” or “Boost Your Energy at Work with Three Simple Stretches”. And then we make a mental note that we really should do something about them and we file them away in the back of our minds. Meanwhile, we continue to suffer from poor posture, low energy and a myriad of other complaints.

Today is the day to change it up! I started a few weeks ago and I’m loving the difference.

One issue some have with working out at our desks is how to fit exercise into our workday, when it seems there isn't enough time to get our work done as it is. Phone reminders are easily set, as are discreet reminders on your computer. (And just as easily ignored!)

Your back hurts and your wrists feel like someone’s tried to twist them off. Your neck and shoulders are so stiff you’re convinced they’ll crumble to dust if you try to move too suddenly. Was it playing basketball the day before? Or maybe that large rock you tried to shift when you set in to do some yard work over the weekend? Maybe the culprit is closer than you think. 

How you sit and move at your desk, also known as desk ergonomics, is serious business. Every year thousands of work hours are lost because of repetitive-motion injuries. Productivity suffers because of tendon or joint pain caused by of all things: just sitting at your desk. Here are some ways to optimize your workspace and to save both money and your joints:

Maybe it is the “slow season”for your business. Or maybe it has been your best season ever, and your stress levels are off the charts. Either way, hopefully you have decided to take a little time off and become reacquainted with your family again.

It can be a little intimidating sometimes, trying to reconnect with family members when you've been putting a lot of time into your business. You may feel like they resent your time away from them.  Or you may simply feel like you don't know one another anymore.

Spending time with loved ones doesn't have to involve elaborate plans.

Cooler temperatures and falling leaves mark the start of fall for many parts of the country. They also mark the start of a busy holiday season. From Halloween through New Year’s the holidays jump off the calendar in rapid succession.

It’s important to keep focused during these months and not lose your direction. With all the holiday fuss it’s easy to see the carefully orchestrated life-work balance you’ve maintained throughout the year get thrown out of kilter. Visiting with family and friends, spending time with your kids and finding time to enjoy a little bit of the holiday festivities can stress out even the most the best entrepreneurs.

October.

As summer becomes a memory, the leaves are already turning in many places around the world. The canopy of green will give way to a stunning panorama of color, marking the start of fall better than any calendar. Many people are already picking out their pumpkins and deciding what costume they’re going to wear come October 31st. 

While Halloween may get the lion’s share of attention during the month, and deservedly so considering the amount of money spent on it, it’s not the only holiday that calls October home.

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. So goes the old rhyme that many of us learned in school. On October 12th of that year, Columbus’ ship first set down on what soon came to be called the New World.

You’ve tossed and turned all night. You’ve counted so many sheep you’re pondering whether to start up a farm. Just when you’ve finally drifted off, you hear the sound of the alarm clock going off. As you pull back the covers and put your feet on the floor you feel like an extra in an episode of ‘The Walking Dead.’

There's an important meeting today with some potential new clients. You need to be at your charismatic and problem-solving best. As you’re about to find out, lack of sleep can make a challenging but achievable task seem almost overwhelming.

You’re not alone.

Nearly one-third of adults report getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night, according to a National Health Interview Survey. And the habit seems to start young; a similar survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 31 percent of high school students report getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night.