Taking a break from work for a well-deserved vacation is refreshing, but returning to a chaotic inbox and missed decisions can feel overwhelming. “Work moves at lightning speed, with endless messages and meetings,” says Zoom’s chief product officer, Smita Hashim. “It’s no wonder people dread coming back.”
A MyBioSource survey reveals 80% of workers face post-vacation burnout, and 42% fear returning to work after time off. The thought of sifting through a mountain of emails might make you question if that getaway was worth it. Fortunately, AI tools can smooth your transition back to the workplace by simplifying the catch-up process.
Before You Leave
Preparation is key to a stress-free return. Andrew Reece, chief AI scientist at BetterUp, suggests using AI to create a seamless handover. “Generate an AI-powered PTO summary,” he advises. “Condense project updates and key contacts for colleagues covering your work, so you can relax knowing they’re prepared.”
Preparation is key to a stress-free return. Andrew Reece, chief AI scientist at BetterUp, suggests using AI to create a seamless handover. “Generate an AI-powered PTO summary,” he advises. “Condense project updates and key contacts for colleagues covering your work, so you can relax knowing they’re prepared.”
Raju Dandigam, engineering manager at Navan, recommends setting up AI-driven email filters like Superhuman, Gmail Smart Labels, or Outlook’s categorization tools. Configure tags based on project or priority to organize incoming messages. “Instead of facing 1,200 emails, I return to five or six neatly grouped summaries,” he says. “Some tools even add concise message previews, saving me from endless scrolling.”
Mo Nasir, CEO of Tessa AI, suggests enabling AI notetakers like fireflies.ai for video calls if your workplace hasn’t already. “Feed transcripts into ChatGPT to summarize updates since you left,” he says. Alternatively, check if your video conferencing platform, like Zoom with its AI Companion, offers built-in summarization features.
While You’re Away
To maximize AI’s effectiveness, disconnect completely during your vacation. Nasir explains that avoiding work messages preserves their “unread” status, making it easier to track what needs attention upon return. “Opening emails clears the unread marker, and you might forget to flag it again,” he notes. “An unread queue keeps everything neatly organized.”
To maximize AI’s effectiveness, disconnect completely during your vacation. Nasir explains that avoiding work messages preserves their “unread” status, making it easier to track what needs attention upon return. “Opening emails clears the unread marker, and you might forget to flag it again,” he notes. “An unread queue keeps everything neatly organized.”
Back at Work
Upon returning, AI can help you tackle high-volume areas like chat platforms or meeting notes. Hashim reviews her calendar for missed meetings and uses AI prompts like “Summarize key points from this meeting,” “Was I mentioned?” or “Are there action items for me?” “It instantly relieves stress by highlighting what matters,” she says.
Upon returning, AI can help you tackle high-volume areas like chat platforms or meeting notes. Hashim reviews her calendar for missed meetings and uses AI prompts like “Summarize key points from this meeting,” “Was I mentioned?” or “Are there action items for me?” “It instantly relieves stress by highlighting what matters,” she says.
For team chats, Hashim queries her AI assistant with commands like “What happened in the last week?” or “Show recent messages in this thread.” She also searches for updates from key contacts, like her boss, to prioritize. “I scan the summaries,” she says. “If something catches my eye, I dive deeper. If not, I move on confidently.”
Dandigam relies on Slack’s AI Assistant, which tracks critical channels and compiles daily summaries in a private log. “When I’m back, I get a clear rundown of decisions, blockers, and changes,” he says. “It boosts my confidence going into meetings.”
For email, Nasir suggests AI tools like Superhuman, Fyxer.ai, or Google’s Gemini to streamline sorting. “I categorize emails into notifications, responses needed, and actions required,” he says. “Spam or sales pitches get ignored.” Similarly, AI tools like Beesly.ai can summarize voicemails, offering quick text overviews instead of lengthy audio playback.
For project documents, Dandigam uses Notion AI or Google Workspace AI to answer questions like “What’s changed?” or “What’s pending?” “These summaries keep me in the loop without wading through files,” he says.
Hashim emphasizes that AI’s benefits extend beyond PTO. “Whether you’re late to a meeting or step out briefly, ‘catch me up’ tools reduce stress,” she says. “They let you stay informed without interrupting others, transforming how you manage work and show up.”