With three public holidays falling on a Thursday, May 2025 is a goldmine for lovers of long weekends. Here are the best strategies to optimize your leave.
🗓️ Three strategically placed public holidays
In 2025, May features three public holidays that are quite advantageous for those wishing to relax without significantly eating into their leave balance:
- Thursday, May 1: Labor Day
- Thursday, May 8: Victory of 1945
- Thursday, May 29: Ascension
All these holidays fall on a Thursday, creating an ideal setup for extending weekends into four-day breaks by taking the following Fridays off. This arrangement allows for a substantial getaway without needing to take an entire week off. It’s a fantastic opportunity to plan a getaway, spend time with family, or simply recharge at home. Therefore, May becomes one of the year’s most strategic months to rejuvenate without depleting your leave balance.
It’s no surprise that every year, vacation requests surge during this time: the weather is improving, the days are getting longer, and the desire to escape becomes stronger.
🌿 Seven days taken = sixteen days of rest
The real masterstroke? Being clever with your schedule. By taking just seven days, you can enjoy a total of 16 days of accumulated rest! Here’s how:
- Friday, May 2 (bridge with May 1)
- Monday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 7, plus Friday, May 9: almost a full week off
- Tuesday, May 27 and Friday, May 30: around Ascension Thursday
This plan provides four consecutive days at the beginning of the month, followed by eleven days around the second week, and finally five days at the end of the month. This scheduling is perfect for maximizing your free time with minimal days taken off. Whether you want to go on vacation, pursue personal projects, or just take a breather, this setup offers an ideal balance between professional and personal life.
And for those working remotely, this month can also allow for effective alternation between rest and remote work, avoiding the heavy traffic of holiday departures.
This also proves to be an excellent solution for those looking to stagger their leave: instead of taking everything in summer, these strategic mini-breaks help manage fatigue throughout the year.
🌄 And for those who may have missed the boat?
Don’t panic: even if you haven’t anticipated the May bridges, other opportunities are coming soon. The Monday of Pentecost, on June 9, offers another chance to extend the enjoyment, especially if your company hasn’t turned it into a day of solidarity.
In summer, there are also smart combinations available:
- In July, taking off 11, 15, 16, 17, and 18 allows for 10 consecutive days around July 14, which is a holiday.
- In August, taking 11, 12, 13, 14, and 18 also enables you to create a dream summer break, including Thursday, August 15 (Assumption).
These periods are ideal for longer vacations without exhausting all your allowances. Whether you’re headed for the sea, the mountains, or just lounging on the balcony, now’s the time to take advantage wisely.
And for families with children, these periods often coincide with the start of school holidays or less busy activity times. A great way to enjoy quality moments together, away from the routine.
📆 Anticipation is key to avoid unpleasant surprises
Every year, the public holidays are highly sought after. In certain companies, they must be booked well in advance and sometimes approved based on the presence of other colleagues. Therefore, it is crucial to anticipate your planning, especially if you work in a team or on fixed-date projects.
Use a shared calendar, coordinate with your family or colleagues, and always allow for some margin for unforeseen events. Also, consider extending weekends outside of the usual periods: they can sometimes be quieter and equally effective for recharging.
Lastly, do not underestimate the beneficial effect of these mental breaks: several studies show that a rested employee is more productive, less stressed, and more engaged. So yes, the May bridges are not just a luxury… but a real well-being strategy!
