How to stretch 15 days of PTO into 41 days off this year
Taking time off is easier said than done. It can feel like there’s no good time to take a week or two off to go on an adventure and explore the world. There isn’t, but you should do it anyway. Time is something we can’t get back, so use it or lose it.
Besides, you don’t need to take a week off, to get a week off 👀
Many employers offer a standard 2 weeks off, if you’re working a Monday – Friday gig with 10 days available, FAB! We can show you how to stretch that into 28 days off (that’s damn near a full month of adventure time!). But if you’re one of the lucky ones with a bit more flexibility in your PTO options, read on to get the rundown on how to ROCK 16 requested days off into 44 days of vacation in 2024.
Here goes, get your pencils ready:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 15, 2024
Monday January 15th is a holiday; take Thursday January 11th and Friday January 12th off + include the weekend and you have 5 days off!
PTO Days used: 2 | Time off: 5 days
President’s Day: Monday February 19, 2024
Monday February 19th is the holiday; take Thursday February 15th and Friday February 16th off + include the weekend and you have 5 days off!
PTO Days used: 2 | Time off: 5 days
Memorial Day: May 27, 2024
Monday May 27th is the holiday; so if you take Thursday May 23rd and Friday May 24th off PLUS include the weekend prior, you net yourself 5 days off for warm weather reflections heading into summertime.
PTO Days used: 2 | Time off: 5 days
Juneteenth: June 19, 2024
Wednesday June 19th is the holiday (and if it isn’t, go yell at your employer!); take Monday June 17th and Tuesday June 18th off + include the weekend for a full 5 days off.
*Bonus* this weekend includes Father’s Day on Sunday June 16th. Go visit your dad, go a little extra wild if you are a dad, or a lot extra wild if you celebrate (not a) Father’s Day! In any scenario, you can stretch this mid-week holiday into a full business week off.
PTO Days used: 2 | Time off: 5 days
Independence Day: July 4, 2024
This is an easy one because US companies get super lax around this holiday. #MURICA!! Thursday July 4th is the holiday; take off Friday July 5th for a 4-day weekend!
PTO Days used: 1 | Time off: 4 days
Labor Day: September 2, 2024
Another super simple extension! Monday September 2nd is the holiday; take off Friday August 30th and snag yourself a 4 day weekend!
PTO Days used: 1 | Time off: 4 days
Thanksgiving: November 28, 2024
Thursday November 28th is the holiday; if you take off Friday November 29th you’ve scored yourself an extra long 4 day weekend for a shopping extravaganza, or a relaxation rendezvous. Either way, it’s a nice little chunk of time to reset after the first drop on the holiday rollercoaster
PTO Days used: 1 | Time off: 4 days
Christmas: December 25, 2024
Here’s where it gets tricky. Some companies are generous and give December 24th, 25th and 31st as holidays, but most only give December 25th/Christmas Day.
If you’re lucky and you’ve got Christmas Eve off, you can get away with taking just 3 days off: Monday (Dec 23rd), Thursday (Dec 26th) & Friday (Dec 27th). BUT, even if you need to take the extra day off (December 24th) you make out with a full 9 days off!
PTO Days used: 3-4 | Time off: 9 days
Bonus!
New Year’s Day: January 1, 2025
If you’re looking to push your vacay time to the max . . .and right into next year, kick 2025 off right with a few extra days off!
Wednesday January 1st is a holiday, so if you take off Monday December 30th and Tuesday December 31st that’s 3 days off. Yay! Buuuuuut adding in the weekend prior, you’ve scored yourself a super long 5 day break! If you were able to swing the week prior as well, that’s 2 weeks off!
PTO Days used: 2 | Time off: 5 days
Go forth and ROCK your PTO this year! It’s a wide world out there, go explore it!
