The Email That Ruined My Flight (And Almost My Holiday)

Before a long-haul flight from Sydney to London, I did something I knew I shouldn’t do.

I quickly checked my emails.

And there it was, an email that hit me. Hard.

I read it once. Then again. I spent the entire flight thinking about it. I dissected every word, ran through worst-case scenarios, and convinced myself I’d have a major issue waiting when I got back.

But here’s the kicker - when I finally returned and spoke to the sender, I’d completely misinterpreted it. It wasn’t a big deal at all. But by then, the damage was done. That one email had occupied my mind for two weeks of what was meant to be a break with family.

Why ‘Just Checking’ Emails on Leave is a Trap

We all know the advice: Don’t check your emails while you’re on leave. Even your well-intentioned boss tells you, Switch off, be present, take the time.

And they’re right. But here’s what we don’t talk about enough, what actually happens when you do check?

Especially if your capacity is already low.

That one email didn’t just steal two minutes of my time. It transported me straight back into the thick of work, snapping me out of my holiday mindset. Even though I told myself I’d “deal with it when I got back,” my brain had other plans.

I wasn’t just on holiday, I was stewing. Thinking. Stressing. And at the very moment I should have been present with my family, my mind was in a completely different place.

If you have high capacity, meaning you’re well-balanced, resilient, and able to compartmentalise, then maybe checking your emails on holiday doesn’t derail you. Maybe you can see a problem and genuinely say, That can wait.

But if your capacity is already stretched thin? Forget it. The smallest thing can feel like an avalanche, and your break becomes anything but.

How to Actually Switch Off

If you’re the type of person who has to check emails (and let’s be honest, many of us are), ask yourself this first:

• Do I have the capacity to see something stressful and genuinely let it go?
• Can I check and then not mentally linger on it?
• Will I regret looking if I see something I don’t like?

If the answer is no - do yourself a favour. Close the laptop. Put the phone down. Be where you are.

Otherwise, say goodbye to that relaxing holiday by the pool… because your mind will already be back at work.