Hi guys! How’s it going? Crazy to think that September is already upon us! (but at the same time, thank the Lord! 2020 has been a year, hasn’t it?). Who else feels like they can’t catch a break this year?
Here’s what we’re here to talk about: not necessarily catching a break, but taking a break. You know what I’m getting at: that lovely Paid Time Off. I was inspired to write this post after surveying you all on my Twitter and Instagram: it seems that, with the pandemic forcing us to work from home, so many people (including yours truly!) aren’t really taking advantage of Paid Time Off this year. Why, you ask? Mainly because working from home makes it feel like it’s not that necessary to take time off, as we’re always at home. Also because we can’t travel much, so we don’t have to use our PTO to take trips and vacations. That even makes us feel guilty for taking time for ourselves: “I’m just sitting at home doing nothing, why shouldn’t I work instead?”.
Still, our body and mind need a break from work, perhaps now more than ever! This post is your friendly reminder to take your remaining PTO days. We’re now close to the end of the year – unbelievable, but true! Therefore, don’t waste your well earned PTO: here’s a list of ways you can use your PTO in ways that you’ll enjoy!
Take a Road trip
You don’t need to go anywhere fancy or incredibly far, but a road trip could be a great way to use your PTO days this summer and fall. It will force you to take time off because it’s really hard to work remotely while roadtripping, plus it’ll keep you busy. Take a couple of days off, grab a few friends and choose a destination that still feels like a vacation. Just be mindful of social distancing and travel restrictions as you move across states. Bonus points if you can find a camper to rent and live my #vanlife dreams!
Get your life together
I once had a boss who would take PTO days to get his life together. We’d ask him what he was going to do on his Friday off and he’d say “grocery shopping”. Now, I know this might not sound very glamorous, but I’m sure we all need some time to stock the fridge, meal prep, do laundry or clean the house. It is absolutely normal and understandable, and especially important when your apartment is your office! So, since we’re not really going on any glamorous trips, let’s use this time off to make our house a home.
Plan a staycation
Let’s face it: the hospitality sector is struggling, and perhaps hotels are the ones that have been hit the most. What’s a better way to support your local hotels
and taking some time for yourself than
planning a nice staycation? If you’ve been following this blog since the dawn of time, you know that I’m a big fan of staycations. Plus,
Chicago is full of outstanding hotels that are ready to have you! Due to the pandemic, some of them are also significantly cheaper and offer free cancellation in case you change your mind. So, why not just book! Some staycations I have enjoyed were the
JW Marriott (
I wrote about it here!) and the
Renaissance Hotel (
find the blog post here). Another cool spot for a staycation, if you’re in NYC: this incredible hotel in Bowery,
Citizen M. We stayed there recently when we took a road trip from Rhode Island to New York. Imagine waking up to that view!
Go see your parents
Whether they live close or far, you should take some time to see your parents this year! It will be a nice change of setting and they’ll be happy to see you. First, make sure that you’ve not been in contact with anyone with symptoms of coronavirus. Otherwise, you’re good to go! I went to see my father this summer in Providence, Rhode Island. It was honestly such a great time! It’s nice to spend some time with my parents before they move back to Italy in just a few weeks. Plus, the area is beautiful! I’ll have a blog post about Rhode Island coming soon.
Do a DIY project in the house
THIS is the perfect time to tackle that project in the house you’ve been meaning to get to: we all have one! Take a day or two off wok and experience the joys of DIY. Please
do not ask me for advice because I am not the right person to ask. Livia and I painted my bed frame a couple of months ago and that’s the
biggest project I’ve tackled in my whole life! However, if you’re looking for inspiration, my two favorite DIY bloggers are
Casa In New York (Italian) and
Within The Grove (American). Give them a follow!
Connect with friends and family
This is mainly on the list because it is something I’d really like to do: dedicate some time to FaceTiming friends and family that I haven’t talked to in a while, especially the ones in Italy that I wasn’t able to see this summer. If you have been feeling disconnected lately, take some time to FaceTime, call or text your loved ones. Postcards and letters also go a long way, but you already knew that I’m a snail mail kinda gal!
Focus on your side gig
I know taking time off work to work on something else seems absurd, but your side gig is your passion, and you should take some time to ignite and refuel that passion! If you’re a blogger, go out and shoot some content, plan out your future posts or write some blog posts in advance! If you’re an artist, paint, draw, sew or create! Or maybe you sell stuff: why don’t you update your online shop with new listings, or promote it on your social channels? The possibilities are endless!
Volunteer
If you really can’t think of a good reason to take some time off for yourself, why don’t you dedicate that time to others? That will surely help if you’re feeling guilty for taking off work – although I want to make it clear: you can and should take time for yourself! There are tons of organizations in Chicago and elsewhere that would welcome volunteers with their arms open. Now’s an especially great time to help those less fortunate.
That’s all I got! What have I missed? What are some other great ways to use your PTO creatively? Let me know in the comments!
