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An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation

An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation
Written By
eWEEK EDITORS
eWEEK EDITORS
May 28, 2012
3 minute read
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An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation

An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation

by Michael Hickins; illustrated by Brian Moore


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Post-vacation planning is critical.

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You know you wont be able to stop yourself from reading e-mail while youre on vacation, but you also know that theres no way you can read (and respond effectively to) everything. So its important to set expectations. Your out of office e-mail message


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Use your travel time wisely.

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Make room for all those e-mails you wont read (but really will) by pruning your in-box when youre on your way out of town. Youre not allowed to send or receive e-mail on the plane, but no one said you cant delete. Either that, or invent a smart phone


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – For faster results …

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… sort your e-mail by subject, then delete everything below the most recent e-mail in a given string.* Most sane people have something like 100 e-mails in their in-box. Neat-freaks keep it to 50. I want my e-mail admin to love me, so I try to keep it un


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An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Check your e-mail when your plane lands.

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Only respond to e-mail if your boss is copied. Shell think youre even more dedicated than you really are.


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Check your e-mail when you get to your hotel.

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Most people at your company know youre on vacation, and this is their chance to pull a fast one by misusing some key metrics to make you look bad. Show them who theyre dealing with. There’s nothing better than catching sneaks flat-footed.


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Turn off your device.

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Do it. Now. Really. Even maniacs need to take a breather. Have that drink you said you were going to have.


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Check one more time before going to bed.

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Seriously, you dont want to let things get out of hand.


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Something important came in?

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At times like this, flagging isnt enough. Hit reply all, delete all names in the TO: field but your name, and save it to your drafts folder. Then, just before getting back on the plane, send all the mail in your draft folder. That way it wi


An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – You finally get that e-mail you were waiting for.

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But you dont want to seem desperate. They just got your OOO message. Wait a few minutes and write back: Hey, I just happened to be checking e-mail. Be sure to get back to me on the (your vacation end date plus 1 here).’ Now turn off your handheld


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An Obsessive-Compulsives Guide to Dealing with E-Mail on Vacation – Youre at the airport waiting for your flight back home.

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Youve got your BlackBerry or Treo in the palm of your hand. But your heart isnt heavy and you arent dreading the moment when you flick it back to life. Because you know exactly whats there. And its a good thing too, because now you know: Exactly noth


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