There are less than 100 days left in 2026. How to maximize your PTO

The last quarter of the year is nearly here, which means there's only a few more months to use up the rest of your paid time off.

Data consistently shows Americans don't take full advantage of all their paid vacation days, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

A 2025 FlexJobs survey of more than 3,000 US workers found that while most had PTO, many avoided using it. Forty-two percent of respondents took one to 10 days off, while 23% hadn't taken a single vacation day in the prior year.

But just as workers aren't leveraging their PTO, research also emphasizes the importance of doing so. Taking time off from work benefits health and well-being and reduces the risk of burnout, per the American Psychological Association.

There are officially less than 100 days left in 2026. Here's what to know for those looking to maximize their PTO for the rest of the year – which is easier this year given that some major federal holidays fall near a weekend.

The easiest way to maximize your paid vacation days is by planning them around existing holidays and long weekends.

By gaming the calendar, workers can stretch one PTO day into four consecutive…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/