Take the Damn PTO: A Summer Reminder from M+P
Hey, you. Yes, you with 47 unused PTO hours sitting in your HR portal like a forgotten salad in the back of the fridge.
Let’s talk.
You’ve been grinding. Showing up, turning out, keeping deadlines on track and clients semi-sane. You’ve made it through budgeting season, pitch season, “Can we hop on a quick call?” season—and now it’s Summer. Glorious, sun-drenched, sandal-wearing, Sun’s-out-guns-out Summer. Your Birkenstocks are just begging to go outside. So… why are you still working through lunch and pretending you’re “fine” with that half-day you were technically supposed to take last Friday? Heck, according to the Pew Research Center, 46% of U.S. workers report taking only some of their PTO. And the next year? 78% did not take all their PTO. Not cool, man.
Here’s your official reminder from the team at M+P:
Take. The. Damn. PTO.
You’ve Earned It—Literally
Paid Time Off isn’t a gift. It’s part of your compensation. You work hard. You deliver. You deserve to step away, log off, and swap Slack for sand, spreadsheets for sangria, deadlines for doing absolutely nothing. PTO is part of the deal.
Rest is Productive (Seriously)
We know it feels like the world might implode if you’re not available for a few days. Spoiler alert: it won’t. In fact, research shows that time off improves productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. Let alone… it can seriously help you avoid total burnout. You’re not a machine. You’re a creative force. But even Beyoncé takes breaks.
Your Brain Needs a Break to Make Great Work
You know that thing where your best ideas come in the shower or while walking the dog? That’s because your brain does amazing stuff when it’s not trapped in a task loop. Time away gives your mind room to breathe, to wander, to wonder—and when you come back, you bring that spark with you.
Your Team Needs the Practice
If you’re always “just checking in” while technically out of office, your team never gets the chance to step up. Trust them. Step back. Empower others by not being available 24/7. (Also, they might finally learn how to find that one folder without asking you.)
Summer Doesn’t Last Forever
Ice cream melts. Pool days fade. That perfect golden hour won’t wait. Summer is fleeting—like a client who doesn’t want to pay for rush edits. So get outside. Book the trip. Visit your weird uncle who lives by a lake. Make memories that don’t involve blue light and bad Wi-Fi.
So here’s your permission slip, your nudge, your not-so-subtle callout: take that PTO. Use it guilt-free. Unplug. Unwind. Reclaim your weekend energy—on a Wednesday.
And if your current gig doesn’t really let you do that?
You know where to find us. 😉
– M+P | The Creative Party
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