Maximising Your Annual Leave: The Art of Leave Stacking
Are you someone who always has a mental countdown to the weekend, or your next day off? If you’re craving more time away from work to be able to properly switch off - you’re not alone! Loads of people feel the same way.
This blog has 2 solutions: find out about ‘leave stacking’, and consider whether there might be an underlying problem behind the feeling of needing more time away from work.
Solution #1: ‘Leave stacking’.
A way of strategically taking your annual leave around bank holidays, to maximise your time off work, and seemingly stretch your annual leave allowance.
Rather than taking random days off here and there, taking extended time off work can have a really positive impact on your overall well-being, allowing you to return feeling refreshed.
How ‘leave stacking’ works
To create longer periods of time off work, schedule your annual leave around bank holidays.
For example, if a bank holiday falls on a Monday, consider taking the Friday before or the Tuesday after off work to create a four-day weekend.
You could even take the entire week off around a bank holiday Monday, which can give you a 9 day break, while using just 4 days of annual leave.
UK Bank Holidays 2025 and what dates to book off to maximise your annual leave
England and Wales
Book these days off to turn 28 days into 58 days of annual leave:
January: 2nd, 3rd
April: 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
May: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th
August: 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
December: 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st
Northern Ireland Bank Holidays
Book these days off to turn 29 days into 65 days of annual leave:
January: 2nd, 3rd
March: 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
April: 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
May: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th
July: 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
August: 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
December: 29th, 30th, 31st
Scotland Bank Holidays
Book these days off to turn 27 days into 60 days of annual leave:
January: 3rd
April: 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
May: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th
August: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th
December: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st
Solution #2: Find a job that’s a good fit
If you’re in a job you don’t enjoy, there’s no wonder you’re living for the weekend, daydreaming about your next holiday, or researching your company policies to see when your ‘long service award’ additional annual leave days are due.
Feeling the need to escape the work environment could be a sign that your job isn't fulfilling or satisfying for you. Instead of constantly counting down the days until your next day off, it might be time to consider your options.
If you're unsure where to start, you can find everything you need to make a meaningful career change in the Career Change Collective. The trainings and resources will help guide you through the process of identifying what you truly want from your work and how to take actionable steps towards finding a job that aligns with your values and interests. Don't settle for a job that leaves you longing for time away – discover the path to meaningful and fulfilling work that energises and inspires you.
In summary
Leave stacking is a clever way of making the most of your annual leave and enjoying longer breaks through the year. By planning your holidays around bank holidays, you can maximise your time off work and prioritise your well-being.
If you find yourself constantly longing for more time away from work, this could be a symptom of having a job that isn’t a good fit for you. Maybe you want to consider ‘leave stacking’ to generate some extra time to get clear on what kind of job would be a good fit for you. If you’re not sure where to start - check this out, so you can decide whether to stay in your current job, longing for more annual leave, or make a change to a job that lines up with your skills, values and passions.
