Victoria Purser
12 November 2024
Hello, fellow HR pros! I’m here with some essential advice for making the most of your PTO in 2025. As HR professionals, we all know how vital it is to recharge and avoid burnout—but strategic PTO planning can also give you a productivity boost and help you return to work feeling genuinely refreshed.
With November here, it's the ideal time to start thinking about your 2025 time-off requests. By aligning your PTO with key holidays and leveraging those extra paid days, you can create more fulfilling breaks and take back control of your schedule. So, let’s dive into some PTO pro-tips and explore how HRLearns™ can help you make the most of your career this year.
Why Planning Your PTO Early Matters
Claim Your Preferred Days First: Submitting PTO requests early is a game-changer. By doing so, you secure those high-demand days around popular holidays, creating a calendar that suits your needs rather than relying on what’s left after others submit their requests.
Avoid Burnout and Boost Productivity: Strategically spacing out your time off can do wonders for your mental well-being and productivity. Instead of pushing through until the next major holiday, planned breaks keep you steady and energized all year long.
Use Fewer PTO Days for Longer Breaks: Planning around holidays means you use fewer PTO days while still getting extended breaks. This is the ultimate PTO hack—more time away from work without depleting your balance!
Make More Time for What Matters: Whether it’s time with family, friends, or just some much-needed “me time,” planning time off strategically helps you to be fully present. By combining holidays with PTO, you’ll create more quality moments for the things that recharge you.
Want more tips like this? Join Suzanne Lucas (@evilhrlady) and me for HRLearns™ sessions, where we dive into strategies to help you make the most of your HR career and personal time. From maximizing PTO to navigating complex HR challenges, we cover it all.
Extra Paid Days to Use Strategically in 2025
Many companies now offer additional paid days off for things like birthdays, work anniversaries, or mental health. Here’s how you can make the most of these perks:
Birthday Day Off: Add this to a holiday weekend for an extra-long break. For example, if your birthday is close to Memorial Day (May 26), add your birthday day to the Friday or Tuesday around the holiday to enjoy a four-day break without using any PTO.
Work Anniversary Day Off: Like your birthday day, pair this with a holiday weekend, such as Labor Day or Columbus Day, to create a longer break.
Company Mental Health Days: If your company offers wellness or mental health days, use these for mid-year breaks. They’re great for extending weekends and helping you recharge.
Stretching your PTO balance with these additional days lets you enjoy more rest without using up valuable PTO.
How to Maximize 2025’s Holidays with Strategic PTO
Below is a breakdown of the major holidays in 2025 and some tips for structuring your PTO around them:
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 20
Presidents' Day – Monday, February 17
Memorial Day – Monday, May 26
Juneteenth – Thursday, June 19
Independence Day – Friday, July 4
Labor Day – Monday, September 1
Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples' Day) – Monday, October 13
Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 27
Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25
Final Tips to Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet
Request Your Days Now: Get those dates on the books as early as possible, especially around high-demand holidays.
Coordinate with Colleagues: By working together to cover each other’s time off, everyone can enjoy their breaks without additional stress.
Take Advantage of Flexibility: If your company allows it, consider half-days or remote work around your chosen dates to extend your breaks.
Looking for more actionable insights? Join HRLearns™ for exclusive sessions with Suzanne Lucas (@evilhrlady) and me! We’ll dive into the latest HR strategies, discuss career growth, and explore ways to avoid burnout and improve work-life balance. Don’t miss out on our HR Vision 25 Kickoff this Wednesday and HR Festivus on December 11th—perfect opportunities to connect, learn, and recharge with fellow HR pros!
By planning now and using every advantage—holidays, extra paid days, and strategic PTO—you’re setting yourself up for a balanced, restful 2025. Join the HRLearns community and make the most of your professional journey. Connect with me on social at @therealvpofhr for ongoing tips, and let’s make sure 2025 is your best year yet!
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