9 Best Carry-on Essentials for a Healthy Traveler
Ever pack too many things in your suitcase and wonder what you should keep or throw out in order for everything to fit? Same. It’s a big struggle.
After all my past travels, I have come up with 9 items that have saved me while traveling. Whether that’s a protein packed snack to hold me over until after my flight, or an eye mask to help me get sound sleep, these 9 carry-on items are essential when it comes to traveling. Let’s get into it!
Here are the 9 Best Carry-on Essentials for a Healthy Traveler
1. Wellness or travel journal
Bringing a wellness or travel journal is a great way to write down what you’re doing, how you’re feeling, and anything else you want to write for memories to look back on. While you’re waiting in the airport, on your flight, or about to snooze, pick up your journal and write a few lines, or more!
Let’s say you’re stressed on your trip, write your stressors out in your journal. It’ll help to put your thoughts on paper and look at them from a more objective standpoint. Or let’s say you’re having the BEST time, might as well write it down so you can reminiscence on your trip years later!
2. Literally any water bottle
If you’ve read any of my other posts in the “Healthy Travel” section, you know how much I love water. I mean, it makes up 60% of our body anyway! Even though I would rather not have to drink water on my flight (so I don’t have to get up and bother my seat-mate mid-flight to use the restroom), it saves me from dehydration.
PLUS for all my beauty gurus out there, drinking more water helps clear skin (fewer clogged pores and breakouts). It also helps excrete waste/toxins from your body, keep a normal body temperature, aids in digestions, and much much more. Drinking more water is one of the best things you can do for your body!
LOL moment: ever have a cough attack mid flight and everyone looks at you like you have COVID? ………….. I have. It was just a dry throat I promise!
Water is an absolute essential when it comes to your carry-on bag. Try to remember to fill up your water bottle before you get on your flight, you’ll thank me later!
3. Eye mask
Let me tell you, I can’t think of a better carry-on essential on my 18 hour flight to Australia than my eye mask. It saved me. Even though planes do a good job of dimming lights when it’s nighttime, you can’t always dodge the bookworm passengers who keep their seat light on at all times (and this is me sometimes when I can’t sleep mid-flight). Enter: the eye mask! It can take a bit to get used to something over your eyes when sleeping, but this is a life saver when avoiding all the flashing plane lights and lights from fellow passengers. This is a must-have if you want sound sleep!
4. A good podcast, movie, or book to dive into
You have to keep yourself preoccupied somehow while waiting in the airport or on your 20 hour flight across the world! As much as my mind would want me to ruminate on all my life’s good and bad decisions for 20 hours, I think diving into a good book or podcast may be a better option in this scenario.
Depending on my mood, I may want to spend this time to better myself by listening to an informative podcast or reading a book about mindfulness, OR listening to some true crime or reading a good fiction book. Either way, keeping yourself occupied is key on these long flights!
Check out the 9 best mindfulness books to read on the plane HERE
5. Easy to-go Snacks
You never know when you’re going to get that hunger pang! I am one who always has snacks handy for this reason. Whether it’s a small pack of trail mix and a banana, or a protein bar. Always having a small stock of food can help avoid being hangry during your travels!
If you want a super easy and quick trail mix recipe, check out my 3 Ingredient Simple Trail Mix recipe HERE!
6. Liquid IV
Such a simple way to stay hydrated while traveling! Liquid IV is a drink that helps replenish electrolytes and rapidly absorb water and other nutrients into your body. Perfect for when you’re feeling dehydrated, hungover, or in need of a boost of nutrients and energy into your body quick.
They come in little packets so they’re perfect size and easy to carry around in your carry-on bag – highly recommend!
Hint: it may be 1/2 of the tips in my 2 Ultimate Travel Essentials for Those With IBS post. Check it out!
7. Probiotics
Another life saver! Especially for those who struggle with gut issues. Probiotics are ~alive~ and are normally found in fermented foods. Probiotics contain microorganisms that are living bacteria in your body. Some may think bacteria is bad (which some are), however some are good for us as well. We naturally have good and bad bacteria in our body, it’s the balance of this bacteria that maintains our health. Antibiotics, certain medications, specific illnesses, etc., can cause dysbiosis in our bodies, meaning more bad bacteria than good are living in our body.
Probiotics help maintain that healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your body. They help boost immunity, reduce inflammation, AND can help keep you regular! It’s a win-win!
8. Earbuds
I’m someone who struggles with falling asleep if I’m in a noisy environment. If you’re like me and are needing to get your beauty rest with no distractions, ear buds are a definite carry-on essential.
Especially if there’s a screaming baby in the row behind you on the plane (this happens more often than you think)! Pair earbuds with an eye mask (and toss in a blanket if you want!) for the ultimate sleep.
9. Hygiene items, moisturizer, chapstick
The must-haves, right? I can’t go anywhere without chapstick or hand lotion. It’s just simply not possible for me. Having a small stash of your go-to items for smooth skin, lips, and all around hygiene items when need be are carry-on essentials. PLUS these items are usually small, so they should be able to fit easily in your carry-on without taking too much room.
There you have it! I hope you liked 9 Best Carry-on Essentials for a Healthy Traveler!
If you want some more healthy travel inspiration, check out the following posts:
21 Best Habits of a Healthy Traveler