--- title: How do you deal with hundreds of e-mails in your inbox right after a vacation? description: Many people tell me that they dread coming back to work after having taken a few days off or gone on vacation because of e-mail If you have taken adv image: https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15481624-jpg/images/road_tripping_small.jpg --- - [Home](https://www.people-onthego.com/) - [Contact Us](https://www.people-onthego.com/company/) - [Blog](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/) [![pog_logo_on_white_tall](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-2213160099-jpg/people-onthego/pog_logo_on_white_tall.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/) ![Less Is More Blog Productivity Tips](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15411125-jpg/Top%20pictures/pog_top_5.jpg) ### Join us at the Webinars **[![2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo.jpg?width=163&name=2021_Webinars_Schedule_People-OnTheGo.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/webinars)** **[Click for our Webinars Schedule.](https://www.people-onthego.com/webinars)** ### The Perfect 15-Minute Day Method is here! [![Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The_Perfect_15-Minute_Day/Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg?width=204&height=138&name=Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg "Promotiona_Video_Thumbnail_Rev2.jpg")](https://youtu.be/zSgfyTYgLa8) Order the [book](http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts/dp/1532783817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465191234&sr=8-1&keywords=the+perfect+15-minute+day)[,](http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts/dp/1532783817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465191234&sr=8-1&keywords=the+perfect+15-minute+day) [eBook](https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-15-Minute-Day-Managing-Thoughts-ebook/dp/B01GNFWKNU?ie=UTF8&keywords=the%20perfect%2015-minute%20day&qid=1465191346&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3), [journal](http://www.lulu.com/shop/pierre-khawand/the-perfect-15-minute-day-journal-managing-your-time-your-thoughts-and-your-emotions/paperback/product-22734416.html), or [eCourse](https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/15268/about) to get started right away and inject a healthy dose of accomplishments and happiness in your workday and beyond! **[Learn more!](https://www.people-onthego.com/theperfect15minuteday-details)** ### Get Our Free eBook *The Results Curve™: How to Manage Focused and Collaborative Time* [![](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15436133-jpg/images/ebookcoverpagesmall.jpg?width=135&name=ebookcoverpagesmall.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/focused-versus-collaborative-time-free-eBook/) [**Click to download.**](https://www.people-onthego.com/focused-versus-collaborative-time-free-eBook/) ### Buy Accomplishing More With Less at Amazon [![AMLWorkbookCoverFinishedSmall](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15420951-jpg/images/AMLWorkbookCoverFinishedSmall.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-With-Less-Workbook/dp/1448675553) [**Available in paperback.**](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-With-Less-Workbook/dp/1448675553) **[And Kindle Edition for Kindle and iPhone users.](http://www.amazon.com/Accomplishing-More-Less-Workbook-ebook/dp/B002Y26Y9I/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2)** [![describe the image](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15439972-jpg/images/freewebinars_ppl.jpg?width=186&name=freewebinars_ppl.jpg)](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn/)[**Learn more about our free Lunch & Learn Webinars.**](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn) # Less-Is-More Blog by Pierre Khawand ## [How do you deal with hundreds of e-mails in your inbox right after a vacation?](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/bid/58791/How-do-you-deal-with-hundreds-of-e-mails-in-your-inbox-right-after-a-vacation) Posted by [Pierre Khawand](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/author/pierre-khawand) on Tue, May 31, 2011 @ 06:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![vacation e-mail](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-15481624-jpg/images/road_tripping_small.jpg)Many people tell me that they dread coming back to work after having taken a few days off or gone on vacation because of e-mail! If you have taken advantage of the holiday weekend and took some extra days off, you may soon experience the same challenge. I experienced this previously when I found 1200 message in my inbox after a vacation, and here is how I dealt with them, applying many of the tips and techniques we teach in the [Accomplishing More With Less](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/accomplishing-more-with-less-time-management/) methodology: - Anything that resembled spam, subscriptions, news, group messages, sports tickets offers, and the like, got deleted. These amounted to several hundred messages. - FYI e-mails that don’t require an action got scanned quickly and moved into the Catch-All folder. This is the folder where unimportant messages are kept and referred to only on an as needed basis. - Messages that can be answered quickly, got answered right then. Once answered, they got dragged into the Catch-All folder as well. - Messages that required further action (or thinking) got assigned the red category**. Those that are time sensitive, got also assigned a reminder with the desired dates and times. - Remaining messages, which are the not-so-urgent messages, got assigned the blue category** and occasionally got assigned reminders with the desired dates and times. Suddenly, a daunting inbox got transformed into an organized list of messages with red and blue categorise, and with the appropriate reminders for those that are time sensitive. The job is not done. The next task is to set some time aside, preferably by the end of the day, to focus on the red messages and handle these in a timely manner. To make this work, make sure you budget a couple of hours when you come back (reserve this time on your calendar before you go on vacation) to sort through your messages systematically as described above! Remember to take a [break every 40 minutes and move](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/bid/58569/Make-it-a-habit-to-incorporate-movement-into-your-day-every-40-minutes-or-so) so you stay energized and complete this task successfully. Afraid about being off e-mail during vacations or holidays? Fear no more.  # Additional Resources - [Managing and Organizing Your E-mail Inbox Using Outlook](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/managing-and-organizing-your-e-mail-inbox-using-outlook/) - [Managign and Organizang Your E-mail Inbox Using Gmail/Google Apps](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/managing-and-organizing-your-e-mail-inbox-google-apps/) - Accomplishing More With Less [Workshop ](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/accomplishing-more-with-less-time-management/)and [Books](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pierre+khawand&x=0&y=0) Topics: [time management tips](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-management-tips), [email management](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-management) ### Subscribe by Email [![Need an employee training solution that's flexible and affordable? Find out about our webinars & onsite training programs.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/74033/b2ec9b00-f03b-48d4-b679-0d2e0c48ea7d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/74033/b2ec9b00-f03b-48d4-b679-0d2e0c48ea7d) ### Write Your Comments ![](https://www.people-onthego.com/hs-fs/file-2236603855-png/images/write_blog_typewriter.png?width=178&name=write_blog_typewriter.png) We want to hear from you! Please write your comments in the blog and let us know what you think. ### Connect with us! ### Browse by Tag - [accomplishment (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/accomplishment) - [books (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/books) - [business results (42)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/business-results) - [business writing (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/business-writing) - [career (20)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/career) - [collaboration (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/collaboration) - [corporate training (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/corporate-training) - [document collaboration (6)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/document-collaboration) - [effective meetings (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/effective-meetings) - [email etiquette (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-etiquette) - [email management (27)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/email-management) - [emerging technology (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/emerging-technology) - [generations in the workplace (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/generations-in-the-workplace) - [getting organized (15)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/getting-organized) - [giveaway (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/giveaway) - [Gmail (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/gmail) - [Google+ (14)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/google) - [guest bloggers (12)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/guest-bloggers) - [happiness (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/happiness) - [human resources (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/human-resources) - [information overload (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/information-overload) - [interruptions (16)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/interruptions) - [leadership (30)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/leadership) - [Lunch & Learn Webinars (21)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/lunch-learn-webinars) - [management (19)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/management) - [managing stress (24)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/managing-stress) - [Microsoft Excel Tutorial (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-excel-tutorial) - [Microsoft Office 2007 (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2007) - [Microsoft Office 2010 (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2010) - [microsoft office 2013 (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-office-2013) - [Microsoft PowerPoint Training (4)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-powerpoint-training) - [Microsoft Project Training (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-project-training) - [Microsoft SharePoint Training (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-sharepoint-training) - [Microsoft Word Training (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/microsoft-word-training) - [productivity (57)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/productivity) - [produtivity (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/produtivity) - [social media (24)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/social-media) - [social media marketing (1)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/social-media-marketing) - [stress management (10)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/stress-management) - [summary-plus-commentary (9)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/summary-plus-commentary) - [survey (3)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/survey) - [team work (9)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/team-work) - [Technology (31)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/technology) - [time management tips (51)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-management-tips) - [time on social media (5)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/time-on-social-media) - [tip-of-the-month (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/tip-of-the-month) - [to do list (2)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/to-do-list) - [tools and supplies (8)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/tools-and-supplies) - [twitter (6)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/twitter) - [virtual teams (7)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/virtual-teams) - [webinars (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/webinars) - [wellness (13)](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/topic/wellness) ### Latest Posts - [Home](https://www.people-onthego.com/) | - [eBooks](https://www.people-onthego.com/ebooks/) | - [Books](https://www.people-onthego.com/accomplishing-more-with-less-books/) - [Workshops](https://www.people-onthego.com/time-management-e-mail-outlook-excel-word-powerpoint-sharepoint/) | - [Memberships](https://www.people-onthego.com/memberships/) | - [Specials](https://www.people-onthego.com/specials/) | - [Free Webinars](https://www.people-onthego.com/free-webinars-lunch-and-learn/) | - [Less-Is-More Blog](https://www.people-onthego.com/blog/) | - [News & Events](https://www.people-onthego.com/news-events/) | - [Speaker](https://www.people-onthego.com/speaker/) | - [Company](https://www.people-onthego.com/company/) | - [Privacy Policy](https://www.people-onthego.com/privacy-policy) | - [Terms and Conditions](https://www.people-onthego.com/terms-and-conditions) © 2021 www.people-onthego.com