Smart combiners look very closely at the calendar at the end of the year: Anyone who tinkers holidays around bridging days can get more free time at a time. These opportunities will arise in 2023.
Use the holidays to build bridges: Pull out your calendar if you want to get as much free time as possible with as few vacation days as possible in the coming year. Those who have the choice benefit from longer holiday blocks in a row, says Prof. Dirk Windemuth, Director at the Institute for Work and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IAG). "It should be at least two weeks of vacation a year, three weeks would be great."
The reason for the recommendation: recovery from work only sets in after some time. It usually takes at least two weeks to really switch off. In addition: "After a longer break, the recovery effect lasts longer," says Windemuth. While shorter vacations also bring relaxation, the recovery effect fades away faster afterwards.
"Therefore, looking at the year, a combination makes sense," says Windemuth. For example, employees can plan with a two-and-a-half-week vacation, a one-week sabbatical, and a few flexible days off. "Provided, of course, that you have the opportunity to choose freely," says the IAG director. Anyone who has a family is usually tied to school holidays. Others may have to consider colleagues with children when planning their holidays.
In any case, it is advisable to save a few more days of vacation for the end-of-year spurt. "It makes people feel in control, and that's reassuring." On the other hand, the knowledge that after a long summer vacation you won't have a single day off works like a mental corset.
Last but not least, those who can afford it are well advised to travel on vacation. "That usually makes a difference in recovery," says Windemuth. On the one hand, because the majority of people do not live ideally and cannot really switch off at home. "Anyone who doesn't travel spends a lot of time trying to deal with the stress at home," says the expert.
On the other hand, a work laptop or mobile phone is usually not far in the familiar environment. The temptation to quickly check the e-mails is all the greater. "So seeing something else really helps to avoid that temptation to distract yourself and really forget about everyday life." It doesn't have to be a long journey for that. A trip to the neighboring region or a visit to friends can have the same effect.
According to Windemuth, it is a matter of type whether it is better to plan the entire annual vacation in advance or to spontaneously apply for days off as needed. Some people have to plan longer in advance for their well-being, others are stressed by it. His simple advice: "Do what is right for you."
Opportunity to build holiday bridges with public holidays is available for all planning types at these times:
Epiphany (regional)
If you live in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria or Saxony-Anhalt, you can get a total of nine days off in a row by taking four days off before Epiphany (January 6th). The regional public holiday falls on a Friday next year, so a long weekend is guaranteed anyway.
International Women's Day (regional)
From 2023, March 8th will no longer only be a public holiday in Berlin, but also in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. International Women's Day falls on a Wednesday in 2023. Anyone who enjoys the holiday can get nine days off in a row by spending four days off (March 4th to 12th).
Easter
The use of vacation days can be really worthwhile at Easter. With Good Friday (April 7) and Easter Monday (April 10), employees with four days of vacation have ten days of free time from April 1 to 10. If you add four more days and use a total of eight vacation days, you can enjoy 16 days off (April 1 to April 16) in a row.
Labor Day
Labor Day (May 1) falls on a Monday in 2023. For four days of vacation, employees get nine days off (April 29 to May 7).
Ascension of Christ
Ascension Day falls on a Thursday, as it does every year. The 18th of May in 2023 is therefore a good choice with the use of one day of vacation for a long weekend (18th to 21st May).
Pentecost
Pentecost traditionally has two public holidays - Pentecost Sunday and Pentecost Monday. In the year 2023 Whit Monday falls on May 29th. If you take the four following days off, you can stay away from work for nine days at a time.
Corpus Christi (regional)
Employees in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland can look forward to June 8: Corpus Christi is a public holiday for them. It falls on a Thursday and is therefore ideal for a long weekend. If you combine this with Pentecost, you can get a total of 16 days off in a row with eight days of vacation.
Day of German unity
The Day of German Unity on October 3rd, 2023 falls on a Tuesday. Opportunity for a long weekend: With a day off, there are four days off in a row.
Reformation Day (regional)
The regional holiday on October 31, 2023 falls on a Tuesday. Employees in Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia can gain nine days of free time at a time (October 28 to November 5) by using four days of vacation.
All Saints' Day (regional)
Employees in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland have a day off on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. With four days of vacation, you get nine days off in a row. Two vacation days result in an extra-long weekend that lasts five days.
Christmas and New Year
At the turn of the year 2023/2024, Christmas and New Year are finally a little cheaper for employees. Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Monday and Tuesday. Three days of vacation mean a free Christmas week. With seven days of vacation from December 23, 2023 to January 7, 2024, there are a total of 16 days off in a row.
(This article was first published on Tuesday, November 01, 2022.)
