@caseylstewart: For years, I wore “never taking PTO” like a badge of honor. I was the one still answering emails over Christmas break and still logged on while everyone else was with their families. The days my daughter still had daycare open, I’d tell myself, “Why waste a vacation day?” It wasn’t about productivity. It was about proving that I deserved to be there. Proving I was still “all in” like I was pre-kids even as a mom. Proving I was ambitious enough, valuable enough, worthy enough. So every year, I carried over vacation days I never used. I had sick days expire. I kept waiting for the right time to rest. And I never gave myself permission to actually live my life outside of work. Then I realized ambition doesn’t mean self-abandonment. It doesn’t mean being available 24/7. And it definitely doesn’t mean skipping out on memories with my kids so I can “prove” something to people who aren’t even watching. Ambition means unapologetically going for your goals in ALL areas of life, not just work. So I took today off to be fully present with my daughter and to remind myself that ambition can also mean presence, joy, and rest outside of work. Your PTO is not a luxury, and you weren’t born an ambitious woman for ambition to become your prison. So now I’m dying to know.. When’s the next day you’re intentionally taking off, and what are you going to use it for? Tell me in the comments 👇🏼❤️‍🔥

Casey | WORKING MOM HABITS ⚡️

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Friday 01 August 2025 16:58:47 GMT