I began last Friday like I do every Friday when I’m not traveling, at my “Yoga Flow” class.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

I actually began my day with an amazing cup of coffee (#grateful), courtesy of (in my opinion) the best invention in the universe; autobrew. I’m not naturally a morning person, so the “carrot” waiting in the kitchen helps me navigate the darkness, ridiculously early hour, and temptation to stay cozy beneath my comforter.

Anyway, after “coffee and contemplation” – my personal version of meditation and grounding – I headed to yoga. I love this class; a hybrid of power, balance, strength, and flexibility, led by an instructor par excellence.

Before class, the most excellent instructor and I were chatting about how I’d missed the previous week because I was out of town, and my perfectly adequate on-the-fly hotel weight routine that stood in for her class, but didn’t, really.

Which led to her sharing the one crumb of knowledge I’m convinced would change every traveler’s experience FOR LIFE, were it to become as routine as surveying the mini-bar or programming the hotel room safe.

She said, “I always feel so much better if I work out when I travel. I always think “I’m on vacation!” and eat and drink more than I should, then I feel terrible. Even if I just do 30 minutes on the treadmill, or some yoga stretches in the room, I feel better.”

That’s it! The (1) secret to returning from any amount of travel and time away from your normal routine without feeling as if you’ve been turned completely inside out and back again. For most clients I work with, the biggest challenge is navigating that merge back into the flow after veering dramatically off course, so doesn’t it make sense to stay as close as possible to your “normal?”

I’m not talking about being virtuous or perfect. I am talking about living true to your health values and being in alignment with the habits and behaviors that make you feel your best, especially if you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and are facing the rigors of treatment in your very near future. Every day (including travel days) that you get stronger in advance of your surgery, chemo or radiation, you build reserves to help you come out on the other side with potentially less negative physical impact.

Less than two weeks after my diagnosis, I headed to Delaware for my nephew’s wedding and a quick trip to meet friends in Washington DC. One of my best friends was diagnosed just ahead of an eagerly anticipated trip to Ireland. Another friend who lives in Manhattan was on a business trip to Chicago when she got the call from her doctor confirming her diagnosis. Breast cancer doesn’t care what your travel plans are, it shows up uninvited and unplanned regardless of whether your bags are packed or not.  

When heading out of town with a breast cancer diagnosis tucked next to your 3-ounce liquids, it wouldn’t be considered unusual to also bring along an “escape reality” mindset. I vividly remember pacing the terminal at Washington Dulles airport, wracked with anxiety over what awaited me once I landed back at Midway. The wedding and whirlwind DC trip had temporarily held the reality of my diagnosis just under the line of hysteria, but once we touched down in Chicago I wouldn’t be able to deny it; it would be show time.

After time away spent deliberately altering your reality with alcohol, food and no physical activity, you may find yourself careening down the slippery slope of “I just can’t seem to get back on track.” The problem lies not so much with the actual reality-altering, but rather the black and white thinking that is, “I’ve blown it. My weight is up and I’m eating everything sugary and fatty I can get my hands on – and I’m stressed. It’s pointless to try and get in shape now.”

Weight gain is a risk factor for increasing recurrence risk, and sub-optimal nutrition doesn’t do your immune system any favors. Once you get that diagnosis, the countdown begins – and every minute counts. Travel plans are typically made well in advance, a breast cancer diagnosis plan isn’t. Take this opportunity to create one; your optimal outcomes will thank you.