summer

As most of us know, traveling, especially long-distance travel, inspires a mélange of feelings — ones that can range from pure exhilaration and enlightenment to frustration, impatience, and boredom. Where the latter is concerned, we wish we had the ability to instantly transport ourselves to our final destination. But until the technology to zap ourselves elsewhere is developed (ha), here are a few of my tried-and-true tips for staying sane, happy, and ready for adventure.

1. Give yourself the spa treatment in the air. Let’s just say that “plane air” isn’t the most pleasant for your skin, but there are certainly ways to minimize the effects of it while you’re en route to point B. Here are some of my go-to tips: Drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated (this should go without saying). Refresh yourself with a gentle toner or mist, like Cosmedix Mystic. If you do feel a spot of plane-induced acne cropping up, apply OSEA Essential Corrective Complex directly to the area and try your hardest not to touch your face!
2. Meditate. Download the Headspace app stat and put those meditation exercises to good use after takeoff. You’d be surprised how calming, effective, and time-consuming (in the best sense possible) airplane meditation can be. If you’re particularly stressed about the act of flying, this should help immensely.
3. Stretch and move yo’ body — within reason. I’m not advocating for a full-on yoga sesh on the plane, nor would the flight attendants enjoy that little party trick. Instead, when the seatbelt sign is “off,” get out of your seat, take a quick stretch in the aisle (barring the food cart, etc.) and shake out those limbs. If you’re already heading to the restroom, may I suggest a “figure four” stretch in the back of the plane? This same strategy can be used in other modes of transportation: train aisle works, pull over to the nearest rest stop if you’re driving, and if you’re on a boat, well, now’s the time to find those sea legs! It will feel divine and I promise it will reset your mood for the next couple of hours.
4. Fill the time with simple pleasures. Whether traveling by plane, train, car, or boat, I find the things that keep me most sane happen to be the things that keep me sane all the time. For me, this means making a new (sometimes, themed) playlist on Spotify for the journey ahead, grabbing a book to read, making sure I have a crossword or two on me, and because I am constantly hungry and don’t want to rely on plane food/gas station fare/etc., I pack delicious snacks to reward myself with. What are the things that make you happy on-the-road?
5. Pack light + smart. No matter what kind of trip I’m taking, I try to limit my packing to “carry-on” size. This makes the entire experience of traveling so much easier. That said, it’s good to be smart about it. Just because I’m packing light doesn’t mean I’m denying myself items of clothing that I’ll eventually need. I’m just realistic about that stuff I will never wear/take out of the suitcase. If that tactic doesn’t seem like it’s in the cards for you, remember to pack a toothbrush and extra underwear in your purse/backpack/laptop bag, etc. at the very least.

What are your no-fail travel tips? I’d love to hear ’em!