Ideally, we all love what we do at work. However, there should still be enough time to relax, unwind, and recharge – and not just over the weekend. Whether you stay home or travel abroad, whether you prefer to do nothing or be active, you should enjoy your well-earned four or five weeks of vacation to the fullest – and, if possible, cleverly extend it with bridge days.
Image: Let's go, let's go.
You should be from Graubünden
First of all: Anyone working in Graubünden will continue to enjoy 16 legally enshrined public holidays and rest days in 2023. Everyone working in the cantons of Aargau, Lucerne and Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, and Zug is entitled to a full 14 days off. In Fribourg and Solothurn, the number is the same, although one of these days is only half paid. Workers in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Geneva, and Vaud have it the least: they have "only" between eight and nine days off per year. Comparing the whole of Switzerland, next year will bring us an average of ten public holidays.
Image: Dive into the mountains and breathe a sigh of relief.
Minimum bet, maximum profit
In some cantons and regions, it's enough to take a single vacation day in 2023 to bridge the gap seven times and benefit from four days off in a row. In the first half of the year, these are the three Thursdays of Ascension Day (May 18), Corpus Christi (June 8), and St. Peter and St. Paul's Day (June 29). The second half of the year offers us four opportunities: the Swiss National Day on August 1 and the Assumption of Mary on August 15, the Geneva Day of Prayer on September 7, and St. Stephen's Day on December 26, a classic.
Image: Sound of the sea instead of keyboard clatter.
Quality instead of quantity
What's the point of days off if you can't fully enjoy them? Many people are stressed all year round. This makes it all the more advisable to plan your days off carefully and prepare for them in advance.
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Flying out when everyone else is doing it? Not a good idea. If you want peace and quiet, it's better not to set off with hordes. Cars get stuck in traffic, and airline passengers get stuck at check-in or security checkpoints. Taking the train often offers a better experience and a more relaxed journey – usually right in the city center.
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Visiting places that are already overcrowded? No problem if you're a herd animal. Everyone else prefers less popular destinations. Does it always have to be Ticino over Easter, the Mediterranean in summer, or a winter sports resort over the holidays? Often, the best places are just around the corner. And they can be reached on foot, by bike, or by public transport.
- Does it always have to be consumption? Things you can get for money are fun – but often only for a short time. How about if we return to real values and communicate more instead of consuming: spending time together, nurturing family and friendships, seeing nature with different eyes, or even planting a tree? Enjoying the little things opens up new worlds – and is far more sustainable.
