How to Navigate a Long Day of Flying

Hot Tips:

Create a mega playlist of your favorite songs then download the entire thing cohesively.
I make one for songs and one for podcasts on Spotify.
Pre-download at least 2 books, 4 movies, and 2 (bingeable) tv series.
You never know what you will be in the mood for!
Add a widget to your phone’s home screen with a countdown to your trip.
I was able to do this with the United Airlines app. Other airlines may offer this, too. Just a fun little feature to add the excitement!

Consider packing a neck pillow that can cram into your personal item bag.
- On my long (17-hour!) flight, they offered neck pillows but they had minimal cushion. If you think you would put it to good use, I say it is worth packing one.
Download the free app Timeshifter to help with jet lag. Their advice is very tangible and user-friendly to set up and you can follow as much of it as you would like. They factor in flights, time zone changes, whether to drink caffeine, light exposure, etc.
Drink lots of water.
- Staying hydrated will reduce feelings of grogginess and leave you feeling more refreshed throughout your journey. It also helps with stimulating proper blood flow.
Go for a walk and/or get in a workout before arriving at the airport, if possible.
- This will give you a clearer mindset and limit the discomfort of sitting for such an extended timeframe.
Note that meals will more than likely be served on at least one of your flights. For the 17-hour one, my sister and I had gone into our United Airline accounts to request “Special Meals” so ours were gluten-free and served just before everyone else’s with no upcharge. We did this soon after buying our tickets. Anna (my sister) was able to do so through the app, but I had to give United a call and they were very efficient and accommodating.
- Everyone was served two meals, one snack and drinks were offered frequently (images below). We flew Economy and were impressed by the quality and amount of the food that was provided.
Purchase Apple AirTags for all of your checked luggage.
- Allows for peace of mind, especially if you are traveling cross-continental. My sister and I even applied vibrant duct tape to our checked luggage so it was even easier to spot on the belt line upon landing.

What I Packed for the Plane:

Comfort:
- change of clothes
- compression socks
Snacks + Supplements:
- dark chocolate
- electrolytes
- grass-fed beef sticks (I love Chomps!)
- green tea packets (you can often ask for hot water on the plane to steep it in)
- magnesium (helps with relaxation and is an essential mineral many are deficient in!)
- organic dried mango
- organic popcorn
- roasted nuts or trail mix (make your own here!)
- sourdough sandwich (mashed avo, raw cheddar, organic turkey slices)
Tech + Entertainment:
- blue light glasses
- kindle (I have the Paperwhite edition)
- laptop
- pens
- phone
- phone charger
- planner
- wired earbuds
- wireless earbuds (56 hours of battery!)