3 Easy Ways to Maximize Your PTO
If you’re lucky enough to get paid time off (PTO), here’s how to use it wisely and stretch your vacation days
Time is money, they say — and while that's true, a wiser concept is recognizing that time off is just as valuable as time worked. If you’re fortunate enough to earn paid time off (PTO) at your job, be sure not to let it go to waste.
With a little planning, you can turn your PTO into an even greater return on your work–life investment. If you're wondering how to use PTO effectively, consider these tips to make the most of your time off and enhance your well-being.
Take time off around federal holidays.
Holidays should include a minimum of two days: one for the holiday itself, and another for either prep beforehand or reset afterward. This is a clever way to apply PTO if you receive federal holidays off with your job.
For example, do you really enjoy working the day before or after Christmas? You probably spend the day with family, possibly dealing with personality differences, listening to holiday tunes on repeat, and eating way too much food. Having both Christmas Eve and December 26 off is a great way to ease yourself into the holiday and then transition back to work afterward. Plus, if Christmas falls close to a weekend, then you might end up getting a bonus five-day weekend.
The same approach can apply to Thanksgiving, which is always on a Thursday, giving you the option for a longer break. Many federal holidays fall on Mondays (such as MLK Jr. Day and Labor Day), so why not take the preceding Friday and following Tuesday off? This simple strategy can give you a mini five-day vacation that only costs you two PTO days.
Here’s a look at the 2025 federal holidays.
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Wednesday, January 1 Monday, January 20 Monday, January 20 Monday, February 17 Monday, May 26 Thursday, June 19 Friday, July 4 Monday, September 1 Monday, October 13 Tuesday, November 11 Thursday, November 27 Thursday, December 25 |
New Year's Day Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Inauguration Day Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Juneteenth National Independence Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day |
Be strategic when using PTO for longer vacations.
Depending on your work schedule, it’s important to plan PTO carefully. Not only can the demands and “busy months” of your job affect when you can take PTO, but the type of trip that you plan to take can affect the flexibility of your PTO days.
For example, a cruise has fixed dates, so you’ll need to align your PTO with the cruise schedule. Traveling internationally? Factor in time zones and travel time. You could leave Spain on Wednesday, but depending on your flight, you may not get to the US until Thursday. Will you be ready to work on Friday, or will you need an extra day to recover from the jet lag?
The more flexible your vacation, the more flexibility you’ll have with your PTO. A road trip, for instance, may take longer than a trip with a flight, but it could offer more freedom and less opportunity for delays.
Knowing how to use PTO to its fullest potential starts with clarifying your priorities and goals. This ensures that you maximize your vacation days.
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Cruise and tour
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Fixed dates/possible time zone difference/possible flight delays
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Consider a staycation.
One of the best ways to get the most out of your time and that PTO money may be to do nothing at all—and just stay at home. Save money by not spending it on a vacation. Instead, catch up on sleep, television, reading, or whatever other hobbies you enjoy. Visit local spots that pique your interest, such as a new restaurant, or attend a special event happening in your town or nearby. If you’re up for it, why not spend a night on the town as an accidental tourist? It’s not like you’ll have to get up for work the next morning.
However you decide to use your PTO, make the best of it. While it's wise to keep a few days in reserve for illness or emergencies, don’t forget to take time for yourself. After all, you’ve earned it!