I've been working my current job about 4 years now and for three of it i've had paid vacation to use. It's sad but statistically Americans are some of the least likely people to take payed vacation because of a stigma that taking time off makes you look bad and could get your fired for slacking off. I once had that feeling, but long ago I found that taking a week off just helps and my missing that week won't kill my coworkers.

I've been taking at least one full week off each year and having paid vacation to cover makes it far simple to relax. I'm on my second vacation of the year flexing the full of my 14 PTO days a year.

If you have PTO, use it. Don't just cash it out on a check if that even an option given you you should really take it and get out and away for some time.