For those that’ve been following alongside, you realize I journey quite a bit for work. And in a few hours, I’m getting on a airplane for my final enterprise journey of the 12 months. First week of December. Final lap. And… | Allyn Bailey

For those that’ve been following alongside, you realize I journey quite a bit for work. And in a few hours, I’m getting on a airplane for my final enterprise journey of the 12 months. First week of December. Final lap. And I’m not going to fake I’m gliding into it with a contemporary mind and a inexperienced smoothie. I’m drained. The type of drained the place you open your laptop computer and overlook what you have been doing earlier than you even end lifting the lid.

It’s been an unbelievable 12 months. Big shifts. Big wins. Big every little thing. Also a psychological marathon that has my mind quietly muttering “no more” whereas nonetheless exhibiting up like an overworked stage crew attempting to alter units at nighttime.

And now right here I’m, suitcase in hand, watching a pile of issues I completely must get performed earlier than I land in London, whereas additionally realizing I’m one lengthy blink away from falling asleep face-first into the complimentary snack combine.
People assume that with how a lot I journey, I should be floating by life in top quality, stretched out, sipping one thing with a twist of citrus. Absolutely not. Most of the time, I’m in Comfort Plus, which solely seems like a luxurious as a result of it’s not the center seat. And each time I persuade myself I’m going to “get real work done,” I bear in mind the reality. Trying to work on an airplane tray with my T-Rex arms is chaos. You attempt to kind and in some way you’re all elbows, like a chaotic child chook studying to fly instantly over another person’s ginger ale.

This is the half nobody talks about. Work journey at this time is mainly carrying a 24-hour roaming sign in your soul. Always reachable. Always anticipated to be responsive. Always one notification away from shedding no matter tiny sliver of calm you had left.

Airplanes was the nice sanctuary. The one place the place your mind might drive a tough reset and say, “We’re done for a minute.” And actually, it’s nonetheless the uncommon second the place the cognitive noise drops sufficient which you could really feel your thoughts cease sprinting.

Which brings me to the existential query of this journey. Do I purchase the WiFi, fireplace up the laptop computer, and crank out the issues that should be completed earlier than wheels down? Or do I let the web go darkish, stare at clouds like they’re delivering common truths, and reclaim a couple of hours of psychological peace?

I really don’t know which model of me is getting on this flight. The accountable government hammering by messaging or the gremlin wrapped in a blanket scarf refusing to acknowledge deadlines.

Either manner, London is ready. And the work will get performed. One manner or one other.