Travel Is A Full Contact Sport—Here’s My Playbook

Exactly what I pack, wear, sip, and…skip.

We’re only 4-ish months into 2025, and I’ve already flown 10 round trips for a combo of work and personal adventures. Last year I traveled at a similar pace, including a trip to Portugal, two to France (one for summer Olympics magic!), and multiple west-coast-and-back journeys.

To state the obvious: flying is a lot right now. Expect short-staffed airports, epic delays, and, fallout from the current Newark debacle. Prepare for agita and chaos.

It can make you feel helpless, but all we can do is control what we can control. I pride myself on traveling light, prioritizing my health, and keeping my vibes and energy high. All of that travel and trial-and-error have helped me curate the very best stuff that makes a huge difference in my physical, emotional, and mental well-being when I’m on the road.

As we enter peak summer travel season, I’m sharing my go-to gear, healthy hacks, and a few TSA-proof self-care rituals. Let’s fly…

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APPAREL

Be the person who looks effortlessly cool—but secretly built their outfit around “can I sleep in this and still look stylish at baggage claim”?

• Perfect tee It’s ideal to slip on a base layer for temperature control on the tarmac when the overhead vents don’t work. I’m eternally on the hunt for the perfect white tee, and currently my MVP is The Margot by Leset. It’s soft, breathable, the sleeves hit at just the right spot, and it’s not too long nor too short.

• Soft hoodie Instant napping cocoon. I pop up the hood and pretend I’m in a sensory deprivation tank instead of seat 27C. Plus, it can get chilly once you’re in the air. This Alo Accolade sweatshirt has been my go-to for a long time.

• Sneakers Only have room for one pair of sneakers? Lululemon’s trail sneaks would be my pick. They’re perfect for airport speed walks between terminals, then hikes and workouts at your destination. Versatility at its finest.

• Squishy sandals I slip mine (again, Lululemon, the Restfeel) over socks once I’m in my (always aisle) seat. Slippers = civilization, even at 35,000 feet.

• Comfy trousers If I have a work meeting directly after landing, these baggy but chic Haikure Denim jeans do the trick. Mine were an impulse buy turned travel essential. Another score, my super-comfy BettyDesigns joggers have a high-waistline with sporty ruching but do not read schlubby.

Pro tip: If you’re checking a bag, always tuck an overnight SOS kit into your carry-on. Always. Trust me: face wash, moisturizer, change of clothes, and a toothbrush will save you when you’re rerouted to an airport hotel and forced to spend $87 at Target.

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GEAR

Pack smart, pack small. If I’d been more luggage-efficient last weekend, I could’ve changed my Atlanta-to-Newark flight when things began unraveling. (Please don’t fly into Newark.)

• GORUCK backpack Durable, deceptively roomy, and with a pouch you can slide your laptop in, too. My husband once packed for a three-day black tie wedding trip using only his ruck. (Yes, he slid his tux into his backpack. Power move.)

Lucy and me before flying to Paris (my mom came too, she took the pic!). This was, if I’m being honest, a nightmare of a flying experience that included taking off from JFK and making it partway to Europe before coming back due to a “mechanical issue”…and then doing it all again the next night. Good thing I had all of my essentials!

• Paravel mini roller This is my go-to for overnight trips. Ugh, it’s so darling that it belongs in a Nancy Meyers film.

• Away carry-on Best press gift I’ve ever received. It’s lightweight, has a hardshell, and it’s totally worth the hype. Just please, tie something other than a red ribbon on it, especially if you get a black one. (Mine was once accidentally taken by another passenger—but thankfully returned—due to that mistake.)

• Toiletry kit Mine’s a 15-year-old Lululemon version that refuses to die. My daughter swears by this newer Amazon one.

• Free People zip pouch Quilted. Poppy colors. Sporty. Perfect for jewelry.

• Monos packing cubes Not sexy, but compression cubes are a game-changer for keeping your stuff neat and organized in your luggage. (Though actually, I bought them in a limited-edition butter yellow, and the color makes my heart happy.) I organize clothing by category—or by outfit, if I'm giving presentations and/or moderating panels. Every person in our family, except Willa, has a set.

• Baggu Cloud Carry-on Folds flat, expands big. Essential for spontaneous shopping or kid stuff. And? You can tuck your ruck into it so you’re boarding with two carry-ons, a rule the flight attendants are very good at enforcing.

Pro tip: Don’t waste precious space on a steamer. Hang your outfit in the hotel room bathroom with hot shower water running, and let the steam de-wrinkle it. Important! Absolutely do not use the iron from your hotel room closet. It will either scorch or deposit rust on your clothes.

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TECH

Confession: I firmly believe that a cross-country or international first class flight basically is a vacation. However, it is not one I can afford. For all of us plebs in the back: Charge everything. Download everything. Assume the WiFi won’t work.

• Apple AirPods Max They will dent a blowout, but noise-cancelling peace is worth that price. Plus, no one will mess with you while you have these muffs over your ears.

• AirPods Pro 2 My backup buds. Pocket-sized, solid, reliable.

• Dagne Dover tech organizer I used to yank cords from my nightstand the morning of my flight. Now I keep this neoprene cutie packed and ready.

• Anker portable charger Because you don’t want to fight the person next to you for access to your aisle’s airplane outlet.

Pro tip: I wish I could tell you to leave your laptop at home if you’re on holiday, but I don’t advise it. I’ve been burned too many times by “acts of god” and cancelled flights. If you might need to work, pack it.

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SELF-CARE

During the pandemic, I once tried to take a 35-pound kettlebell through airport security in my ruck. Yes, they confiscated it, and yes my family was mortified when I tried to convince TSA to give it back. Treat your body like the high-performance machine it is—just one that happens to be trapped in an upright seat for hours—with these security-line–safe essentials.

• Chinese herbal patches For my shoulder thing. And my lower back thing. (And my 46-year-old-everything thing.) It might be a placebo effect, but I swear by it..

• CBD muscle balm Menthol-y muscle balm = chef’s kiss. Joggy used to make one that I loved, but they no longer sell it, so I’m psyched that I discovered Green Compass’s topical CBD pain cream at the retreat at Big Cedar Lodge last weekend.

• Drunk Elephant Buttered Reparative Hand Cream Re-applied at least 7x once I’ve hit 35,000 feet.

• Bullet Journal I once left mine in a seat back pocket and nearly threw up when I realized it in the Uber later. Shoutout to the Delta team who rescued it and left it with baggage claim for me to grab before the next morning’s flight.

• Paperback book If you haven’t read Lessons in Chemistry, that’s the move here. (Also ideal for sunny days by the pool; put your phone down.)

• Cough drops + face mask Every time. No explanation needed.

Lucy and me in our Talika masks on the way home from Paris, where had floor tickets to see the one and only Taylor Swift finishing up her Eras Tour. Core memories.

• Sheet mask On a trip to Paris, my daughter Lucy convinced me to buy Talika masks at the mecca of skincare, Citypharma. She nailed it! It feels like you’re Benjamin Button-ing yourself in the air.

• Pill holder Don’t learn the hard way. Your medication does not belong in a checked bag. I am partial to this 7-day cutie in rose gold.

Pro tip: I stretch at the gate. I stretch in the aisle. I did approximately 100 downward dogs during a 14-hour flight to Bali. I’m too old to care what people think…and that includes my kids. (But yes, it is quite cringe to film said routine.) Here’s my mobility guide with all sorts of ahhhh-stretches.

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NUTRITION

Story time. Back in my 20s, traveling home from a friend’s wedding in Austin, the guy next to me broke out a giant loaf of bologa after we hit 10K feet and proceeded to slice off/consume chunks from it for the remainder of the flight. I still have not recovered. Anyway! Healthy fuel always feels better than airport impulse buys. Pack snacks like your blood sugar depends on it—because it does.

• Water bottle It’s 2025 my friends; you gotta. Dump it before security, refill as soon as you’re through.

• Zojirushi coffee thermos I’m officially that person. Something about sipping my coffee from my cup in Terminal B, and, later, as I move about the hotel, makes the chaos feel conquerable.

• Copper Cow Vietnamese instant coffee My backup plan for busted hotel room coffee makers, because caffeine is everything when I travel. Tastes like a treat. Always makes mornings feel special.

• Essential Amino Acids A travel hack I swear by, this supplement ensures I hit my protein goals even when meals get weird. Kion also makes darling little travel packets if you’re tub-averse while traveling. (I make room for mine, haha.)

• Creatine I stay consistent—5g of creatine every single morning—even on the road. TSA only flagged it once, and honestly, we ended up having a cute chat about strength training. (I’m a blast to travel with!)

• Quest chips I only eat these snacks on planes. I have questions about how they get 21g of protein into a chip, but I’m not going to over think it.

• Hard-boiled eggs Kidding! I love protein, but I would never, ever do this to my seat mates.

• Greek yogurt Weirdly reliable, I’ve yet to find an airport without one in a grab-and-go fridge. There’s ~15g of protein per serving, and there’s usually jerky in the airport kiosks, too, so you’ll easily hit that 30g threshold.

• Club soda: full can + cup of ice That’s how you order it. I don’t make the rules.

Pro tip: If you don’t want to pack containers of powdered supplements, measure out the amount of servings you need, scoop into a clear Ziploc bag, then label each bag with a permanent marker. A good friend swears by this technique.

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VIBES

Remember: You are not the main character of a delay. Even if you’re stuck in Atlanta purgatory for eight and a half hours.

• Be kind to your crew They’re tired. You’re tired. Just remember: Everyone is doing the best they can.

• Pack your patience Something will go sideways. When I feel my blood pressure spike, I breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 8. It really helps.

• Say “hi!” to your seatmates I’ve had fascinating conversations over tiny bags of pretzel mix. (Let me live!)

• But use your judgement If your seat mate goes barefoot, then pulls out the bologna loaf and plastic knife? Put on your headphones. And sheet mask. You know what? Your face mask, too.

• Splurge on Wi-Fi I do this for flights over two hours. It may not work—but if it does, you’ll feel like you won the lottery.

• Download podcasts and shows If you have not yet seen “Nobody Wants This,” you’re welcome. It was a fizzy, feel-good delight to-and-from Vegas last fall. Do it at home before you’re stressed at the gate. Plus, you’ll be doing your mobility work before boarding, right?

Thank you for reading. I’d love to hear if you have any travel hacks/tips/products you love in the comments!

BTW: This post contains a few affiliate links—a new thing for me! That means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them. But please know: I will only share what I use regularly, love, and vouch for.