This weekend, we went to Boston on a work trip. It was my first time back since I graduated law school, but it was a very quick trip that was almost purely work-related. We only decided to make the trip a few weeks ago, so our travel options were limited. We stayed in one of the very few remaining Airbnb options that had multiple bedrooms. It was a place to sleep in Cambridge; that was fine and all we needed from it. What has been much more of an issue so far this week is my decision to take a very early flight back on Sunday morning. It is a decision that goes squarely into the “penny wise pound foolish” category, especially given how much energy I had to expend on Saturday to be “on” at the conference and the reception that followed.

I don’t sleep well normally, and I was sleeping at a rental, and I don’t know why I even bother setting an alarm when I need to wake up during la madrugada (a word that we don’t have in English but should). I woke up for good around 4:30 and took a rideshare to get to the airport around 5 for the early flight. It all meant that I was back at my apartment before 9 AM on Sunday, but I was out of it. I went to church to try to maintain some normalcy to the day but had a hard time focusing. Then when I got back I ate lunch, took a nap, and woke up more tired than before. The afternoon was a wash. Then to top it off I regressed during curling Sunday evening and fell more than I have since the first week of the season implementing the form change. At least I didn’t fall on Monday night (though my performance still left much to be desired).

Even writing this on Wednesday morning, I’m still feeling the effects of needing to be on all day Saturday for the conference and then flying back so early on Sunday. This has led to new rules for booking work travel, but the short-term damage is already done. It is my hope that at least these new rules will improve things in what is already shaping up to be a busy 2025 filled with work travel.