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Work smarter not harder: How to maximise your annual leave days in 2023

It's never too early to start planning your annual leave for next year.

Let's be honest, it's never too early to start planning your annual leave for next year.

If you're a fan of working smarter not harder and wanna get the most out of your 2023 annual leave, here's how you can do it.

1. Waitangi Day - Monday February 6th

Take Friday 3rd February off to turn a 3 day weekend into a 4 day weekend.

If you're in Auckland or Nelson, January 30th is also a public holiday for you, so if you take Tuesday February 1st til Friday 3rd off, you'll score yourself 8 days off for the price of 4. How good.

2. Easter Weekend - Friday April 7th and Monday April 10th

Take the remainder of one of the weeks off to score a sweet 10-day-holiday, while only using 4 annual leave days. Or if you've got a shit tonne of leave built up, take both sides of the weekend off and say bye to your workmates for a glorious 16 days, while using 8 days leave.

Southlanders, you've got Tuesday 11th off already, so if you take that whole week off, that's a 10 day break while only using 3 annual leave days.

3. ANZAC Day - Tuesday April 25th

Take the Monday off for a four day break while only using 1 day's leave - too easy.

4. King's Birthday - Monday June 5th

Use 1 day of annual leave on Friday June 2nd to enjoy an extended King's Birthday weekend. RIP Queen Lizzie.

5. Matariki - Friday July 14th

Why not use 4 annual leave days from Monday 10th - Thursday 13th and enjoy the whole week off?

Remember, this is your last public holiday until the end of October, so use it wisely.

6. Labour Day - Monday October 23rd

You know the drill - 1 day of annual leave on Friday 20th will score you a four-day-weekend.

Hawke's Bay, you've already got the Friday off, so consider it a done deal with no annual leave needed. You little beauty!

Marlborough, you've got the following Monday 30th off - so if you take 4 annual leave days between Tuesday 24th - Friday 27th, that's a full 10 days off.

7. Christmas and New Year's - Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th December

Christmas and Boxing Day fall on a Monday and a Tuesday this year, so taking 3 days annual leave for the rest of the week will give you a sweet week off.

There you have it. If you're keen to nab some of these breaks, make sure you get in early with the boss.

And Brad the Boss if you're reading this, this is my official leave request. Cheers.