Red Eye Essentials

I’ve mentioned briefly on the blog that I started a new job over the summer, but what I haven’t written about yet is travel on the job! Traveling for work is not new to me, my first job out of school in consulting required being on the road every week from Monday to Thursday. I’ll admit, it wasn’t for me and it made it very difficult to balance work, a relationship, my health, and any semblance of a social life. When I got the job offer for my new job, I knew there would be some travel involved – but I also knew I would have more say in when I travelled and how often.

For the past few weeks I’ve been flying from LA to NYC every week and although it’s been a lot of time spent on a plane, it’s also been incredibly invigorating and exciting. One thing that has been a challenge though is figuring out the best time of day to fly to New York. If you fly during the day, you essentially lose most of the day with the 3 hour time difference. The most efficient option I’ve found is often the red eye. I can’t say anyone loves a red eye, but I’ve been trying to figure out a routine that works. Here are the red eye essentials that help me get as much sleep as possible and come off the plane somewhat refreshed and ready to go!

Red Eye Essentials You Need:

+ Noise Cancelling Headphones – you don’t realize how loud planes are until you’re trying to get a halfway decent night’s rest! Noise cancelling headphones are travel must haves to block out noise in the airport and on the plane. They also come in handy in the event you have a crying baby next to you…

+ Silk Eye Mask – I’ve written about slip eye masks before (and pillowcases) but I honestly can’t stress how much I love them!! The material is so comfortable and it really helps if you’re trying to sleep in a public space or even at a hotel. I can’t travel without mine, I love them so much I have multiple masks that I keep around the house.

+ Emergen-C – planes are full of icky, gross germs. Ever get off a plane feeling a little congested or with a slight tickle in your throat? All of the recirculated air on planes is seriously gross – your immune system definitely takes a beating on a cross country flight. Combat this by chugging Emergen-c or taking a vitamin C supplement.

+ Cozy Sweats – maybe you’re one of those people that dresses up for flights. Maybe even red eyes. I am not one of those. If I’m not wearing full on pajamas, I’m definitely wearing comfy sweats. I mean, you’re trying to sleep!

+ Moisturizing Face Mask – if you’re ready to go all out with a full on sheet mask, try a super hydrating face mask (and drink tons of water on the flight!!). I like this one because you don’t even have to wash it off, and it has Sephora’s clean beauty seal!

What are your red eye essentials?