As much as I love traveling and seeing new places, the thought of being on a plane for 7+ hours always gets me. Thankfully, now that we live in Europe our flights are typically much shorter than before, but we still have a few long hauls each year. In order to feel my best and recover the quickest, I always try to incorporate the below tips & tricks. Although I might still be a bit jet-lagged, I am feeling much more fresh and ready for my adventure ahead of me! Hope you enjoy.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.
Starting a day or two before my departure I up my water intake almost by double. Traveling by plane can dry out your skin pretty bad, so I like to start with staying hydrated internally. Also, most airlines only give you a teeny, tiny cup of water, so I always make sure I pack a water bottle. My favorite one is this one from Camelback.
External hydration is important, too. The night before my departure I do a sheet mask or moisturizing face mask. This leaves my skin super soft and ready for my long day of travel. Plus, I will take any excuse to pamper myself a bit!
Workout
Sometimes I travel as much as 34 hours for one trip, which means so much sitting and no ability to get my blood flowing. For peace of mind and the sake of my body, I always make sure I get a run in the day before or at the least, a long walk. I feel like I’ve made up for the sedentary day that awaits me.
The night before our flight we are typically in a hotel near the airport and sadly they don’t always have a workout facility. So I always bring my iPad downloaded with a workout from Kayla Itsine’s Bikini Body Guide. This way, in the morning before our flight leaves I can get a 30 minute HITT workout in. This has been a game changer for me! Not only do I like having these pre-flight, but also while I am out of town it’s nice to have a workout I can do almost anywhere.
Bring a healthy snack from home.
Airport food is expensive, salty, and rarely good for you. Don’t get me wrong, desperate times call for desperate measures and I’ve eaten my way through a bag of peanut m&ms and trail mix waiting in Iceland for my next flight.
However, if at all possible, try to prep something at home the day before that can easily pack in your carry-on. For example, I always make a healthy banana bread from scratch, bring sliced apples and peeled oranges, and pack anything else I can clear out my fridge before the trip.
This has been a lifesaver for my husband and me; sometimes our flights are extremely early and waiting in line for an English muffin at Starbucks just isn’t possible. Or we need a small snack while we wait through customs and getting our rental car — it’s best to come prepared. No one wants to be "hangry".
Have a few of your favorite toiletries handy.
It’s the little things. I like having body cleansing wipes, a toothbrush, hand sanitizer, and a bit of my favorite lotion can go a long way on an international flight. It’s amazing how a tiny body cleansing wipe can make you feel like a new person after your first leg of travel.
Here’s a few of my favorite products I always keep on hand:
Honest Body Wipes // Lavender Clean Hand Gel
Do everything you can in advance.
Yes, traveling can be stressful and hectic, but it doesn’t always have to be. I have found that if I pack everything the night before, lay out my clothes for the next day, and get my mind in the right place, then traveling can be relaxing and fun.
This way, I feel confident and prepared when I arrive to the airport and can focus on enjoying time with the person I am with, read a book, or catch up on my favorite Netflix series (if you didn’t know, you can now download your favs to your iPad, how cool?).
If you have the right mindset and come prepared, I am confident your traveling experience will be that much better.
How do you prep for your long trips? Let me know in the comments below.
