How to Maximize your PTO with Intention (Plus Remaining 2025 U.S. Holidays)

For many of us, paid time off (PTO) is a benefit we look forward to each year—but it’s also one of the most underused. Sometimes we tell ourselves we’ll take that trip “someday” or wait for the perfect time to unplug. Other times, it’s guilt, workload, or simply not knowing how to make the most of our days. Either way, PTO often sits untouched.

And that has real consequences: burnout, reduced productivity, and the creeping feeling that life is all work, no rest, and no balance.

At Cherish, we believe time off is essential to your well-being. Rest fuels creativity, supports mental health, and gives you the space to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. That’s why our trips are thoughtfully crafted with your well-being in mind—from intentionally paced itineraries with downtime woven in, to Friday or Saturday departures that give you space to recharge before returning to your routine.

This guide will help you use your remaining PTO wisely, turn long weekends into real breaks, and prioritize travel that leaves you recharged. Because your vacation days matter, and it’s up to you to use them with intention.

What U.S. holidays are left in 2025?

Before we dive into how to maximize your PTO, here’s a quick look at the remaining federal holidays in 2025:

• Independence Day: Friday, July 4

• Labor Day: Monday, September 1

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Monday, October 13

• Veterans Day: Tuesday, November 11

• Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 27 (with many offices also closed Friday)

• Christmas Day: Thursday, December 25

How can I maximize PTO with federal holidays in 2025?

These holidays are golden opportunities to stretch your vacation time. For example:

• Turn a long weekend into a nine-day trip: Take off just four days around Labor Day (Sept 2–5) and get nine days off in a row.

• Create a fall getaway: With just one PTO day on Monday, October 14, you can enjoy a four-day Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend.

• Bookend your holidays: Taking off December 26 and 29–31 can give you a 10-day winter break with only four PTO days used.

How to plan PTO that actually restores you

Using your PTO isn’t just about taking time off—it’s about making that time count. Whether you’re traveling across the world or taking a break closer to home, the goal is to return feeling recharged, not exhausted. Here are a few ways to make your time off genuinely restorative:

• Plan the right kind of trip for the season you're in. Ask yourself: Do I need adventure, rest, connection, or clarity? Your needs should shape your itinerary, not the other way around. 

• Build in breathing room. Don’t fly home at midnight and log on the next morning. Give yourself buffer days to transition in and out of travel mode.  All Cherish trips are intentionally designed with this in mind, with many itineraries ending on a Friday or Saturday so you can ease back into your routine.

• Protect your boundaries. Turn on your out-of-office message, disconnect from work apps, and set the expectation that this time is truly yours.

• Choose destinations that align with your intentions. Whether it’s time in nature, exploring a new culture, or connecting with a like-minded community, travel should support how you want to feel. (Not sure what you’re craving? Our founder offers free travel chats!)

• Mix downtime with moments of meaning. Leave space for spontaneity, rest, and reflection.

How Cherish designs every trip with intention

At Cherish, we believe rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a vital part of living well. Thoughtful travel has the power to renew your energy, shift your perspective, and support your well-being long after you return home.

That’s why we design experiences that help women reconnect with themselves, with each other, and the world. Whether you're snorkeling off the coast of Panama, hiking on a glacier in Iceland, or admiring the sunset over the Serengeti, our trips are built to maximize what your PTO was meant for: presence, joy, and meaningful moments that last.

We plan every Cherish trip with intention, from the timing to the experience itself. Many of our weeklong getaways end on a Friday or Saturday, giving you time to travel home, decompress, and feel restored before a new week begins. And while you’re on the journey, we build in thoughtful moments of stillness and reflection, so you return recharged—not depleted.

If you’re ready to make the most of your PTO with a meaningful getaway, reserve your spot on one of our upcoming trips. Remember—rest isn’t a reward, it’s a necessity. Your PTO is yours to claim, so use it thoughtfully and fully.