Ask a Professional Office Organizer – Prepping to Take Time Off
Thinking about taking time off from work? In this installment of Ask a Professional Organizer, we received questions all about office organizing while planning a vacation. As the countdown starts and before you shut down your computer for the last time before vacation, check out this advice from your NYC Professional Office Organizer.
Q: I’m headed out of town for two weeks, but I’m not sure the best way to share with my clients what’s happening and who they should contact if they need anything. Any advice?
I highly recommend calling your clients to let them know about your upcoming trip and the plans that you put into place for coverage during your absence. It not only gives you an additional opportunity to check in with them but also shows that you value your relationship with them. After the call, I would then send a follow-up email with the name and contact info of the colleague who will be covering for you.
Q: I have a long weekend road trip coming up but I’m worried I won’t be able to get all of my tasks done before I leave. Do you have any tips on how to prioritize?
I typically advise my clients to focus on tasks with hard deadlines as well as those that impact revenue when faced with this type of situation. If you are running very short on time, possibly one of your colleagues can pitch in and help with one of the must do tasks.
Q: I’ve been on vacation for the last 10 days and I’m feeling overwhelmed about all the work waiting for me when I return. Do you have any advice on how to manage everything I’ve missed?
I would recommend getting a handle on the big picture before diving in and possibly spending lots of time on a less important task. You can do this by looking at your email, listening to voice mail messages, reviewing your task list and de-briefing with those colleagues who covered for you. Within a couple of hours, you’ll be getting up to speed which will enable you to prioritize effectively and feel in control instead of overwhelmed.
Do you have a question for this NYC Professional Office Organizer? You can send in your questions right here and then check back next month to see what new advice I shared!