Healthy Travels: Ease Jet Lag With These Wellness Carry-ons

How many times have you booked a killer vacation, only to arrive at your destination after a miserable plane ride feeling exhausted, stiff and out of sorts? Just as you take care and consideration in packing your suitcase with the essentials, you can pimp your carry-on to include items to ease in-flight unrest and encourage a more pleasant travel experience. Don’t let a plane flight (and its aftereffects) be the worst part of the trip! Staying hydrated, comfortable and adapting to a different zone are the most important parts of air travel—throw these items into your carry-on and enjoy the friendly skies.

Highly concentrated and distilled from the essence of a plant, essential oils have long since been regarded as natural medicine. Just smelling the fragrance of a high grade essential oil can flip your mood upside down, and a little bit goes a long way—making them a perfect carry-on addition. Stash a bottle of Young Living peppermint if you tend to get nauseous mid-flight, or bring doTERRA’s lavender along to quell anxiety and aid sleep.

It’s important to sleep on long flights. Figure out the appropriate bedtime for the time zone you’re headed to, and pop on an eye mask to block out the light around you. If you get a jump on adapting to your new time zone, you’ve won half the jetlag battle. Try a lightweight eye mask that’s contoured so it doesn’t press against your eyes like the Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask, which encourages a deep REM sleep cycle to ensure you arrive at your destination ready to explore.

Hydration is a major key in making sure jet lag doesn’t rear its cranky head. The high altitude and recycled air can wreak havoc on skin and your digestion— combat those effects with a hefty supply of H2O on-hand. While airlines do offer water and plenty of refills, those tiny cups are a pain. Do yourself a favor and bring along your favorite reusable bottle and politely ask a flight attendant (or refill before boarding) to top you up. We love the light and insulated Hydro Flask bottles.

As previously mentioned, a plane flight can dry out your skin, resulting in breakouts. Keep your face happy with some portable moisture, like Herbivore’s Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist. Give yourself a spritz once before take-off and once in mid-air to stay fresh faced upon landing.

Have you ever nodded off on a flight, only to wake up with a sore neck that follows you throughout your trip? Save your neck, shoulders, and sanity with a neck pillow. We love the AirComfy Travel Pillow because it’s inflatable so it takes up little of your precious carry-on space.

Though they’re pretty ubiquitous now, the first guy to tote a U-shaped travel pillow on a plane probably got a few sideways glances.