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If you’re juggling a full-time job and a deep wanderlust, you know how precious your PTO days are. I’ve been there, counting the hours, dreaming of escape and figuring out how to make every day off count without burning out or breaking the bank.

In 2025, I’m on a mission: to travel every single month while balancing a demanding corporate schedule.

Here’s my strategy for using PTO like a boss to turn long weekends into mini-vacations and make the most of public holidays.

My Core Strategy: Plan Ahead & Be Flexible

• Map out public holidays and weekends early in the year.

• Stack PTO around long weekends to extend trips.

• Opt for short-haul, mid-budget destinations with direct flights.

• Prioritize quality over quantity, meaningful experiences over rushed sightseeing.

Sample PTO Travel Calendar:

January: Cozy city break (think Vienna or Stockholm in winter) or extended New Year’s travel

February: Cultural weekend escape (e.g. Hamburg)

March: Springtime slow travel (small towns in the Netherlands or Sylt)

April: Nature recharge (Harz or Black Forest)

May: City getaway (for my birthday)

June: Shoulder season Dubrovnik or Athens

July: Extended summer trip (plan a longer vacation here if you have kids or need the school holidays)

August: Mini getaway (Osnabrück or nearby hidden gem)

September: Early autumn cozy city (German islands or balkan)

October: Fall festivals or moody city trip (like London or Edinburgh)

November: Quiet off-season escape (Würzburg or Munich)

December: Festive city break (Edinburgh or any Christmas Market)

Travel Hacks That Make PTO Travel Possible

• Use flight alerts for last-minute deals.

• Book flexible tickets when possible.

• Pack a carry-on only for quick trips.

• Plan smart

Final Thought

Travel isn’t about escaping your life—it’s about enhancing it. When you use PTO smartly, even a full-time job can fuel your adventures.

Here’s to your best travel year yet!

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Most people are optimizing the wrong things. They’re chasing productivity hacks while their health quietly declines or building careers while their identity shrinks. Spending money without a system or resting without actually recovering.

The Long Game is a weekly newsletter that zooms out. Every Saturday you’ll recieve one email built around four pillars: a Destination worth traveling to, a Read of the week, an Expert opinion that caught me that week, an Alignment tip to make everything fit your system and one Motivation to continue. I call it a DREAM because of that. It’s practical tools, honest perspective and zero filler.

Written by someone who burned out, rebuilt from scratch and learned that sustainable success isn’t about doing more. It’s about building better. She has a law degree, an autistic brain that loves systems and a deep distrust of generic advice.

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