Most of us get a set amount of annual leave days per year, but with a bit of clever tweaking, we can turn a few days into a good, long stretch of holiday time.

And longer holidays are essential to our health and wellbeing, a new report has found.

A study by Tourism Australia, released today, found Australians who took breaks of more than five nights tended to be more productive at work and less likely to take sick leave.

It also found people who took solid holiday time were generally happier, less irritable, and three times less likely to argue with family and friends. In addition, they generally stuck to healthier diets and exercise habits after longer holidays.

However, Tourism Australia said only 18 per cent of domestic holidays across Australia last year were for five nights or more.

Australians need a holiday of at least five nights away to reap the benefits to our health, wellbeing, work life and relationships, according to Tourism Australia.Source:Supplied

RELATED: Aussie spot that’s become our new Bali

The challenges of COVID-19 were likely a factor in our 2020 holiday habits – before COVID-19 many of us were taking big overseas holidays of three weeks or longer. But now, with much of the country available to visit, tourism bosses are reminding people holidays are more than an indulgence, but essential for wellbeing, work life and our relationships.

“We know that having a stash of annual leave is not a barrier for most – according to our monthly sentiment tracker, only 6 per cent of Aussies (say) they didn’t have enough leave to get away,” Tourism Australia’s chief marketing officer Susan Coghill said.

Holidays aren’t just an indulgence, but essential to our health, the report found.Source:istock

“While the challenges of travel in the time of COVID continue to be on people’s minds, sentiment is improving. More than half of Aussies have revealed that they’d like to take a

holiday in the next six months.”

In addition to being good for wellbeing, domestic holidays also supported the tourism industry still reeling from COVID-19 lockdowns as well as the 2019-20 bushfires.

“Now, more than ever, tourism operators need your support to fuel Australia’s recovery. And

with a backyard as vast as ours, the holiday possibilities are endless,” Ms Coghill said.

How to maximise annual leave in 2021-22

It’s not always easy to snag five straight days or more off work, but with some clever handling of the 2021-22 calendar, you can turn a few days off into a pretty substantial holiday.

This can be done by taking advantage of weekends and public holidays. Suddenly, three well-placed annual leave days can become a 10-day getaway.

How to make the most of your annual leave over the next 12 months. Picture: Tourism AustraliaSource:Supplied

The benefits vary across states and territories, due to public holidays in some places but not others. Here’s how the calendar is shaping up for the rest of this year and into 2022.

New South Wales

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn another four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Queensland

Turn another four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, May 3 to Friday, May 6

Victoria

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn another four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Monday, November 1 and Wednesday November 3 to Friday, November 5

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Australian Capital Territory

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 1 to Friday, June 4

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn four days into nine days: Request off Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Tasmania

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn two days into five days: Request off Friday, October 22 to Monday, October 25

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

South Australia

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, October 5 to Friday, October 8

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Western Australia

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 6 to Tuesday, June 9

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Northern Territory

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, June 15 to Friday, June 18

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, August 3 to Friday, August 6

Turn three days off into 10 days: Request off Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31

Turn two days off into five days: Request off Monday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 25

Turn four days off into 11 days: Request off Tuesday, April 19 to Friday, April 22

Turn four days off into nine days: Request off Tuesday, May 3 to Friday, May 6

trending in travel

Source: Read Full Article