Holiday travel has a reputation for stress, and a week with the in-laws can be taxing enough without a missed connection on top. It doesn't have to be that way. Whether you're driving over the river and through the woods or standing in the security line, these are our favorite ways to keep stress low and good vibes high.
How should you prepare before you leave?
1. Give yourself more time than you think you need
Raise your hand if you've ever reached the airport 40 minutes before your flight, sweating and silently begging your driver to go faster. Few things spike your stress more. Leave early and give yourself the gift of a calm airport: once you're through security there's time for a coffee, a stretch or a look around.
2. Charge everything the night before
Phone, headphones, laptop, power bank. Then pack the chargers in your carry-on, not your checked bag. Common sense, we know. We still need the reminder.
3. Load up your entertainment
Download podcasts, a playlist, a new book or audiobook, or a few episodes of your favorite show for offline viewing. Escaping into another world for a while makes a long trip go faster.
4. Pack your own snacks
Airport kiosks and gas stations aren't known for healthy options, and what they do have costs more. Nuts, dried fruit, bars, dark chocolate and crunchy vegetables all travel well. Check our list of vegan snacks to pack for holiday travel. If you're flying, remember that creamy foods like yogurt, hummus and nut butter count as liquids or gels, so carry-on portions need to follow the TSA liquids rule: 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less per container, in one quart-size bag. Nobody wants to sit next to a hangry stranger.
How can you stay calm on the way?
5. Go easy on the caffeine
That third coffee may not help. Caffeine raises levels of cortisol, a key stress hormone, and the effect is smaller but still there in people who drink coffee every day. Add check-in lines, pushy crowds or a back seat full of "are we there yet?" and it can leave you feeling more wired than ready. Save the pre-workout for the gym, have an herbal tea, close your eyes and breathe.
6. Bring a neck pillow
Inflatable neck pillows fold flat to pack and make napping on a plane or in the passenger seat far more comfortable. (Not if you're the driver.)
7. Invest in noise-canceling headphones
Crying baby two rows back? Loud laugher up front? Tune it all out, pair them with that neck pillow and snooze.
8. Move your body
Many airports now have yoga or quiet rooms, and you don't need a mat to stretch. No room? Find an open spot by a window, roll your shoulders, stretch your hips and take some slow breaths. On a road trip, use rest stops for a short walk.
How do you keep your body happy while you travel?
9. Bring a reusable water bottle
Cabin air is dry, and it's easy to drink less than usual on a travel day. Carry an empty bottle through security and fill it at a fountain or filling station on the other side. On the road, most gas stations will refill it for you.
10. Take your greens with you
A day of packaged food gets old fast, and an overpriced, wilted airport salad isn't much better. A scoop of greens powder before you leave, or a single serving packed in your bag, is an easy way to keep your nutrition on track. Easy Being Green has more than 20 organic greens from land and sea, plus prebiotics and adaptogens. Learn more about what's in a greens supplement.
11. Look after your skin and ears
Dry cabin air can leave your skin feeling tight, so pack a travel-size moisturizer within the liquids limit and reapply through the day. For ear pressure on takeoff and landing, try the simple steps from MedlinePlus: chew gum, suck on a candy, yawn, or gently breathe out while holding your nose and keeping your mouth closed. Try not to sleep through the descent, and if you're congested, ask a pharmacist or your doctor whether a decongestant before the flight makes sense for you.
What's the most important tip of all?
12. Enjoy it
It's the holidays. Your family loves you, however unusual their ways of showing it. Breathe, you've got this. For more ideas, read our tips on staying healthy while traveling, and once you arrive, catch up on rest: here's why sleep matters so much.
