Ideas and Solutions

Chances are while you’re with the family at the beach or in the mountains or at a theme park for your annual weeklong getaway you won’t be thinking about the office. Of course, that’s a good thing, allowing you to rest and recharge. But what about when you get back? Will you return to an absolute mess of disorganization that can cost you days of catch-up time? Well, that depends on how you leave your workspace before embarking on your vacation.

To follow are a few tips:

Clear your desk. All those papers that are scattered across every inch of your desk should be filed prior to leaving on your vacation. Keep in mind that your desk is probably the very first place you’ll be when you return, and leaving it clear will at least minimize the possibility for a daunting mess of papers when you come back.

Ask for help from a co-worker. If possible, ask someone to “cover for you” in terms of keeping your workspace organized. Here’s a great approach: designate a “tickler file” or temporary drop-spot where that person can place papers as they arrive during your week off. That way, when you return you can tackle all the papers from one starting point. If you expect the paperwork build-up to be particularly great during your time off, utilize several tickler files.

Make a list. Write things down for co-workers, indicating where current project documents have been filed so they can be easily found if necessary. Just as importantly, indicate on your list where “incoming” papers should be temporarily filed while you’re gone (i.e., the “tickler file” as described above).