Ask Flex / Always behind, can't catch up
How do you catch up on work after being sick?
Start by asking one person what changed while you were out, before you open the inbox. Then send a short "I'm back" note with new dates, and pick just three things for your first day.
Ease back in.
Ask what changed
Five minutes with a coworker beats two hours of email.
Send the I'm-back note
What you're doing first, and new dates for the rest.
Pick three for day one
Not thirty. Three.
Ask for new dates
Most deadlines can move a few days if you ask.
I was out sick for [number] days and I'm back at work. Here's what's waiting, with names and private details left out: [paste your list or email subject lines, with any due dates]. Tell me which three to do first, and draft a short "I'm back" note that gives new dates for the rest.
Before you paste work stuff into any AI, check what your company allows.The Start Wheel
Too behind to pick where to start? Put your late things on the wheel and spin. It picks one. You give it 15 minutes.
Spin the wheel Learn this in the Lab, free
A free group where you learn to use Claude for the repeat parts of your job: email, reports, forms. Start with a 15-minute chat that maps what Claude can do in your job.
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How do I catch up at work after vacation?
Sort the pile by who's still waiting, and let the rest go. Flex has a page on it.
How do I catch up on work emails?
Draw a line. Work the last two weeks and park the rest. Flex has a page on it.
How do I get back on track at work?
Finish one small thing today. Flex has a page on it.
Want to hand this to Claude?
Start in the Lab with the free 9-to-5 Job Triage: a 15-minute chat that maps what Claude can do in your job. Everything inside is free.