Make the Most of Your Time Off
PTO days are a great chance to step away from your usual routine and do something that feels refreshing. Whether or not we want to admit it, we deserve time away from our desks now and then, which means it’s time to close the laptop and make the most of our well-earned time! That said, not everyone knows how to spend their PTO days in a legitimately productive way, especially when we’re so accustomed to working ourselves ragged. Don’t worry, we’re here to break down the best and worst ways to blow through your days.
1. Plan a Local Day Trip
A day off is the perfect time for a trip somewhere special! Pick a nearby town, beach, park, or attraction you’ve never visited before. You don’t need a long vacation to feel like you’ve had a change of scenery. Trust us, a simple day trip can give you fresh experiences without much expense.
2. Treat Yourself to a Slow Morning
Hey, this is your PTO we’re talking about, and that means a perfect excuse to sleep in, make a nice breakfast, and ease into the day! It’s an easy way to enjoy the quiet moments that usually get rushed. Allowing yourself to slow down can feel surprisingly luxurious.
3. Take a Class
No, we’re not saying you should go back to school! You can, however, sign up for a cooking class, pottery workshop, or dance lesson to get your brain and body moving. You don’t have to be good at it for the experience to be worthwhile, and trying something new can make your day off more playful.
4. Spend the Day Outdoors
Who said you had to spend your time off indoors? Go for a hike! Visit a botanical garden or rent a bike. You can even have lunch at a park. Fresh air and movement can help you reset after spending too much time indoors.
5. Create a Personal Spa Day
If you’re looking to spend a little money on more luxurious things, you can always book a massage or treat yourself to a manicure. If you don’t want to spend the money, you can do it at home, too! Light a candle, put on comfortable clothes, and make the day feel calm from start to finish.
6. Explore Your Own City
Acting like a visitor for the day can make familiar places feel new again, and there’s no better time than with a PTO day. Visit a museum, try a restaurant you’ve been meaning to check out, or walk through a neighborhood you rarely see. There’s more to discover right outside than you realize.
7. Host a Midweek Brunch
You don’t need to spend PTO alone! You can always invite a loved one over for a relaxed meal during a time you’d normally be working. It feels a little naughty, but in the best way, and a weekday gathering can feel special because it breaks from the usual schedule.
8. Dedicate the Day to a Hobby
When was the last time you made time for your hobbies? Exactly! Spend your day painting, gardening, reading, gaming, or doing whatever you usually squeeze into spare moments. Having several uninterrupted hours can make the activity feel more satisfying than trying to jam it into your calendar.
9. Go on a Mini Shopping Adventure
A mini shopping spree doesn’t have to sink your savings. You can easily visit a farmers' market or a bookstore and take your time browsing. You don’t have to buy much for the outing to feel fun, either; the point is to enjoy looking around without rushing the experience.
10. Do Absolutely Nothing Productive
Honestly, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to allow yourself some rest! Leave the errands for another day. Watch a favorite show, nap, or just sit outside with no agenda. The best use of PTO is simply letting yourself rest without turning the day into another task list.
That being said, PTO is meant to give you breathing room, so it’s worth being thoughtful about how you use it. While there’s no perfect formula for a day off, there are a few choices that can leave you feeling more drained than refreshed.
1. Checking Work “Just for a Minute”
Telling yourself you’ll only peek at your inbox almost always turns into answering messages and responding to emails. Once work gets your attention, it becomes much harder to fully relax. Your PTO will feel more useful when you give yourself real distance from the office.
2. Packing the Day
This isn’t the last day you’ll have off, even if it feels like it! So, a full schedule can actually make your time off feel just as demanding as a workday. When every hour is booked, you leave little room to enjoy what you’re doing; it’s better to choose a few meaningful plans than pack a crowded agenda.
3. Saving Your Errands for One Day
Using PTO to handle appointments and paperwork makes the day purely administrative—and no one wants that. While some life tasks are unavoidable, stacking them together leaves you wondering where your break went.
4. Spending the Whole Day Doomscrolling
It’s tempting to “catch up” on social media, and while scrolling can seem harmless at first, it’s actually a huge drag. After several hours, it leaves you tired, distracted, and oddly unsatisfied. Your PTO deserves more than disappearing into endless feeds.
5. Agreeing to Everyone Else’s Plans
It’s definitely kind to spend time with people you care about, but your day off shouldn’t be built around other people. Saying yes to every invitation doesn’t leave you any time for what you actually want. A few boundaries make the day feel more like yours.
6. Turning Rest Into a Goal
Trying to optimize your relaxation makes the whole day strangely pressured, so don’t push yourself. You don’t need to track every habit, complete a wellness routine, or make your PTO look impressive. Taking time off works best when you let it be imperfect!
7. Leaving Your Phone On
Constant notifications will yank you out of the calm environment you set up, so no checking your messages! Even when they aren’t urgent, they can keep your brain hovering near everyday responsibilities, which means muting alerts makes your PTO legitimately peaceful.
8. Starting a Home Project
A major closet cleanout? A huge room renovation? During PTO? We don’t think so! Projects take over your entire day, and what begins as one productive idea may end with a bigger mess and less energy than you had before. Unless you truly enjoy what you’re up to, your PTO may not be the best time to tackle it.
9. Feeling Guilty for Taking Time Off
It’s easy to think about what’s waiting for you at work, but guilt won’t make your return any smoother. It also doesn’t bode well for your PTO. Remember: those days off are part of your compensation, not a favor you have to apologize for using.
10. Forgetting to Plan Your Reentry
Now, the tricky thing is that ignoring the next workday can make the transition back feel more stressful. You don’t need to fill every thought with work, but a quick priority list can help you return with less friction. That tiny bit of preparation can protect the good feeling you earned!
