Post-vacation pile

MAIL

Think of what accumulates in your absence and often requires sorting through bills or letters upon return.

After a vacation, you often return to a stack of unopened letters and packages waiting for you—this is the "post-vacation pile." The clue plays on the idea that mail accumulates while you're away, making it a literal pile of physical items. The answer "MAIL" fits because it’s the most common thing people find piled up after time off. No wordplay here, just a straightforward reference to a relatable experience.