[lumb63]

Ha, this reminds me of a very similar practice I used to engage in with a few buddies when we started work. It was always fun to try to figure out how to optimize the PTO to get the “most days per day”.

Nowadays, I find that the best time to take PTO is when I feel like taking PTO. Taking a long weekend when I’m feeling burnt out or disengaged goes much further for me than grinding for the entire first half of th year to get a week off for 4th of July. YMMV.

[Frost1x]

Depending on your role and environment, certain days are also have more value in my eyes than others. For example, people tend not to push heavy stressful and potentially disaster risk processes on Fridays. They either do these on weird off hours for their target user base at large scales or Mondays in general. Fridays where I’m at tend to be “easier” days people intentionally try to make so for a gentle transition into the weekend.

As such, taking off Fridays tends to get me less ROI while Mondays tends to be nice because while everyone deals with problems from the last week head on, I can roll in on a Tuesday with the benefit of their insights and progress. Then there’s the fact even if I’m off on Friday people I socialize with are likely still working anyways so… it could be any day for myself.

[bombcar]

This is key - taking the week between Christmas and New Year's often maximizes PTO days, but everyone does that so that week is quiet, simple, and you can put your head down and get some real work done.

[madcaptenor]

I wish I could do that but I have little kids. But we have generous PTO that expires at the end of the year, so everyone takes off lots of time in December... even by December 1 things are getting quiet.

[MoreQARespect]

Most days per day also probably means that you're maximizing the amount you spend on travel and the pain you experience. It's not cheap or pleasant traveling around July 4th.

[ericmcer]

Exactly! I will throw a day off a few weeks away so that I have something to look forward to. When it actually arrives sometimes I don't even care anymore, but it is a great morale booster in the moment. A few three day weekend can be so much more impactful than having 9 days off instead of 5ish.

Looking at the calendar and seeing the next holiday is 6+ weeks away can really drag you down.

[dfxm12]

It's important to take off a day when you're feeling burnt out, but for some, I think it's also important to plan ahead a little bit to see the "most days per day" where you, your kids, your partner, etc. will all have off together.

[fullstackchris]

Agreed, in Switzerland this idea of "stretching" is common but I find it stupid. Weather going to be bad? Doesnt matter, I can stretch my total time off 3 days more!!! Total off season to where I am traveling to? Doesnt matter, I get that single extra "bridge" day! Man so cringe.

I don't know, seems much easier that if you dont want to work then don't!

I mean the tool OP posted recommended 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

This topic has always rubbed me the wrong way I think because its way too closely tied to the whole workaday / "work sucks" / ratrace / 9-5 mentality.

One other thing as I continue my rant, related, the whole "plan your holidays for the next year so we can figure out the resource planning, even if you move your holiday!" Ugh so depressing, I always am like "welp next year is planned already and its only November". Nothing spontaneous, nothing interesting.

Anyway, I realize also I am likely in the minority here, HN folks will do anything for a "hack".

[jagermo]

>>I mean the tool OP posted recommended 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

sad parents tied to school holidays noises.

[kleiba]

Sorry, I don't understand - why wouldn't you do that?

[Freak_NL]

Parent (heh) means they have no choice but to plan their holidays during the days off in the school roster. Tools like these are pretty much pointless if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

[Winse]

When I had younger children, we would just pull them from school on occasion. This did require a bit coordinating with homework, teachers etc, but they don't have to be in school. On a more serious note, schools are there to serve you, be assertive about your children being yours, they do not belong to the state (at least in the USA).

[Freak_NL]

Yeah, that doesn't work in a lot of countries. I can be assertive all I want, but if I pull my child out of school without permission, I risk getting a call from the local child protection services and/or getting fined.

[j45]

If kids are performing academically there isn’t much grounds for the school to stand on.

[generic92034]

> if you can take a day off from work, but your kid is required to show up in school.

Sounds like a real day off, though. ;)

[jagermo]

If I could go on a 4-day week, I think I would choose Wednesday, drop the kids off at school, head to the mountains for a hike or skiing in winter, and pick them back up in the afternoon. Now, that would be the perfect work week :)

[MikeTheGreat]

This sounds like a feature request / opportunity.

Like, can the tool be expanded to do:

1) Finding vacation time for a group of people (family? college friends?)

2) Can you include black-out days (school days for kids, whatever your specific job requires, etc)

I mean, as long as _I'm_ not responsible for making this thing I can make feature suggestions all day :)

[pc86]

When I was in my early 20s I had a few friends who were obsessed with traveling and would do stuff like this to maximize long blocks of time off, then they'd pick where to go because now they have 9 days instead of 4, and decide where to go backed on what time of year they had that longer block.

If your trying to maximize "contiguous days off" and you truly don't care when it is, a tool like this is super helpful.

[j45]

This is a great way to plan a travel window and even pick the best destination that presents itself then.

[matsemann]

> 2 weeks off at the end of March into April on the easter holiday (because of the friday and monday holiday)... who is honestly doing that?

It's like peak cross country season?! Still loads of snow, but nice weather. I skied in shorts and a tshirt for days this easter!

You know you don't have to do as the tool says? It just highlights one of many variables you can use when deciding when to take your time off. If you have other needs (as your weather thingy, or spontaneity, or when kids are off school), you are of course free to take that into account.

[svilen_dobrev]

> plan your holidays for the next year

i am absolutely lost in why anyone would do that. And on other side, resource planning is only lame excuse.

But AFAIK most of western europe goes that way.. which is a preliminary planned existance. Boring like hell. Where is Life?

[Freak_NL]

As soon as you have kids in the age range where school is mandatory you are pretty much confined to the school holiday roster for big trips. This means you pretty much have to get your planning going soon, if you want trips that are both interesting and possible.

Planning ahead is the only way to actually have some freedom. You can rent really nice cottages, get that night train reservation, etc., as long as you plan ahead.

I'd love it if it were possible to have elective days off for kids in school as well, but that's usually only possible for people in certain jobs who can't use the regular school holidays.

[j45]

I thought it was a bit much too until I learned that there can be benefits from a life management perspective to setup yearly traditions, as well as often being able to get beer value for some things planned out in advance