LINK: rotting in 2025
There are days when I’ll use my PTO just to sleep in or start work later. Sometimes, it’s because I stayed up too late catching up on work. Other times, it’s because I was doing self-care—like going to a concert or spending time with friends—and the night ran longer than I anticipated.
Is it responsible? Probably not. But when work-life balance doesn’t exist, what options do I really have? I have enough PTO banked (250 hours as of now) to afford a few slow mornings, and sometimes rest trumps productivity.
When I was a director, I remember taking Black Friday off, not to chase after the best sales or stand in lines, but to sleep. At the time, I was constantly on call, juggling endless responsibilities while dealing with anemia. It was exhausting. I didn’t need a getaway; I needed recovery.
There have also been multiple days in a row, where I’ve used PTO from my primary job just to work at my secondary one due to meetings, audits, or trainings. My friends think that’s insane—and maybe they’re right, but that’s just how it is.
That said, I do occasionally use my PTO for what it’s meant for: to travel. Sometimes, it’s a domestic trip and other times (if approved) it’s international. But even then, I’m so drained that the first day or two of vacation goes toward catching up on sleep.
Side note: Even though I was born in California and am a U.S. citizen, I don’t dare fly out of the country these days. Not in this administration anyway.
How do you use your PTO? To rest? To live? Or just to catch up?
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