How to maximize your vacation days in 2025
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If your New Year's resolution is to use all of your PTO, here's how to best do it in 2025 by creating longer stretches of time off.
Why it matters: Research shows that taking time away from work improves well-being.
The big picture: Americans are notorious for not using all their vacation time, despite only receiving an average of 12 days annually, per Expedia.
Here's how to get the most out of your 12 vacation days by combining them with federal holidays and weekends:
Around New Year's Day, take off:
- Monday, Dec. 30, 2024
- Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024
(5-day break)
Around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, take off:
- Friday, Jan. 17 or Tuesday, Jan. 21
(4-day break)
Around Presidents Day, take off:
- Friday, Feb. 14 or Tuesday, Feb. 18
(4-day break)
Around Memorial Day, take off:
- Friday, May 23 or Tuesday, May 27
(4-day break)
Around Juneteenth, take off:
- Friday, June 20
(4-day break)
Around the Fourth of July, take off:
- Thursday, July 3 or Monday, July 7
(4-day break)
Around Labor Day, take off:
- Friday, Aug. 29 or Tuesday, Sept. 2
(4-day break)
Around Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day, take off:
- Friday, Oct. 10 or Tuesday, Oct. 14
(4-day break)
Around Veterans Day, take off:
- Monday, Nov. 10
(4-day break)
Around Thanksgiving, take off:
- Black Friday, Nov. 28.
- If you already have Black Friday off, take off Wednesday, Nov. 26, or Monday, Dec. 1
(4- or 5-day break)
Around Christmas, take off:
- Friday, Dec. 26
(4- or 5-day break, if you have Christmas Eve off)
