At the peak of my 2026 personal and professional travels, prime Euro-Summer, new swanky London Proper Home, hot dates, work wins, and even self-recognition of how great things were, due to a medical condition that has already knocked me out entirely for 7+ days, I woke up with a thought:
“What do people who embrace the full speed bleisure living lifestyle do when it’s all rapidly taken away?”
My first reminder, to all those who love to travel, despite what I sometimes see from TikTok influencers, is to NEVER lie about your actual sick versus out-of-office days when using Paid Time Off (PTO). I was grateful to have accumulated days at work. According to this article, each time you fly, you increase your likelihood of getting sick by 80%.
My second reminder, is to communicate early with those you know. I actually waited on sharing my health condition, wanting to be “strong,” but ended up receiving really valuable advice, both medical and non-medical, from loads of people in my life. Everyone gets sick; don’t let the fear of your “invincible” image stop you from hearing a great idea. And please, don’t be one of the staggering 75% of people who conceal their infection.
Third reminder, and probably my top takeaway as I’ve asked myself all the “could’ve/would’ve/should’ve” questions over the past 7 days, is to really enjoy it while you can. 40-minute flight delays really aren’t a big deal; in-flight Wi-Fi breaking is part of it; if your room has an ugly view, you’ll live… easier to type than to live out, but it’s true. I’ve been on a trip (probably a 25% work, 75% leisure mix so far in 2026) a lot this year, and I wouldn’t trade those moments for the world.
So remember:
Be honest about your sick days, communicate early, and remember all of the great moments. And side tip: It’s okay to admit it’s challenging, especially if you live alone and are used to doing so much.
And stay tuned for what I hope is an article very soon about a Bounce Back, where I’ll share health and personal tips I’m taking on an upcoming business trip to Bucharest after recovering.