Leave Year Planner
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Plan your leave year — split your allowance across quarters so December never eats it, bridges get booked early, and the gap between real breaks stays under the burnout line.
Quick answer: Planning rule: no quarter with zero leave days, no gap over ~12 weeks without 3+ consecutive days off, and 20-30% of the allowance held for H2 flexibility. Enter your allowance and leave-year start; the planner drafts the split.
Why Leave Needs a Plan
Unplanned allowances follow the same curve everywhere: light H1 usage, a Q4 panic, forfeited days at the cap (the expiry math), and 9-month stretches without a real break — the pattern burnout statistics are made of. The fix is boring: allocate by quarter in January, book the bridge dates first (they sell out), and defend one long break.
The Allocation Template (20 Days)
| Quarter | Days | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 3 | A long weekend + buffer — breaks the post-holiday slog |
| Q2 | 5 | A real week off (spring bridges stretch it) |
| Q3 | 7 | THE long break — 9-10 consecutive days; recovery research favors one proper detachment |
| Q4 | 5 | Year-end bridges + reactive days — under the rollover cap by design |
The Three Rules
12-week rule: never more than ~12 weeks between 3+ day breaks — fatigue accumulates past it. One long break: a 9+ day stretch outperforms scattered Fridays for actual recovery. H2 reserve: keep 20-30% unbooked for life’s surprises — fully-booked-by-March plans crack in September.
Team-Level Version
Managers: collect Q3 intentions in Q1 (conflict-resolve early), enforce the minimum-usage floor each quarter (the people who “can’t take leave” are your turnover pipeline), and watch the tracker for anyone pacing toward a December pile-up — a July nudge beats a December fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I spread annual leave across the year?
Roughly 15/25/35/25% by quarter: early long weekend, a Q2 week, the long Q3 break, and Q4 bridges — never a zero-leave quarter.
How long should my main break be?
Nine-plus consecutive days once a year — detachment research shows recovery needs the second week; scattered single days don’t substitute.
How often do I need time off?
A 3+ day break at least every ~12 weeks keeps fatigue from compounding — the planner’s spacing rule.
When should I book leave?
Bridge dates in January (they go first), the long break by March, and hold 20-30% of days for second-half flexibility.
What about the rollover cap?
Design Q4 so your remaining balance lands at or under the cap — expiring days are a pay cut you volunteered for.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026