I never thought I'd pay extra for business class — now I swear by the upgrade's incredible value

• I fly often and thought I'd upgrade to business class one time just to experience it.
• Instead, I fell in love and have made business-class upgrades my new normal.
• I love that I can easily sleep, get work done, and relax in comfy seats in business class.

I have visited more than 35 US states and 42 countries on four continents.

Since I have such an intense affinity for world travel, I've previously had to figure out ways to keep costs low enough so that I can continue onwards to my next adventure.

I usually book economy flights even though I've always struggled with leg space as a taller woman — my overall desire to travel superseded concerns about short-term comfort.

However, something changed last fall when I (somewhat impulsively) upgraded my long-haul flight from Zurich to Seoul to business class.

It was meant to be a one-off thing, but it's changed how I want to experience travel. I've had three long-haul flights since that "fateful" day in September ... and I've upgraded to business class each time.

I've found it's easy for me to justify shelling out extra funds for upgrades

In business class, I'm able to enjoy my long-haul journey as much as my destination. The bigger seats with ample legroom and in-air dining and flowing libations have been eye-opening.

The upgraded seat gives me room to stretch my legs and have enough space to be comfortable and productive when I have work to do, too.

Although the overall experience of business class is worth it, I find the most value in how I feel upon arrival.

The 180-degree lie-flat seats give me an opportunity to sleep (even if I can only manage a few hours). This is especially great on long, overnight flights that usually have morning or daytime arrivals.

While heading to my next destination, one of the greatest gifts I can give myself is the best opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge while on a flight. Business class gives me the comforts to do just that.

Now that I've felt the perks of business class, it's hard to want to travel any other way

The typical cost of business-class upgrades can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands (unless you use frequent-flyer or credit-card points) and may not be feasible for every budget.

Personally, I break down the cost of an upgrade by looking at the flight time. So, for example, if the flight is 12 hours, and the upgrade costs $1,000, that's about $83 an hour. To me, that cost is often worth it.

Although it took me 37 years to try business class, I don't know if I can travel in economy again, especially not for long trips.

Moving forward, for any flight longer than nine or 10 hours, I'll be trying to purchase an upgrade.