In case you didn’t know this already: I travel quite a lot. I always have. A lifetime of moving many, many times and also loads of worldwide travel for all sorts of reasons. And in between these things—I HIGHLY value my home life. A LOT. Through these experiences, by trial and error, I have created lists of “what to pack/not to pack” and learned some fun tips and tricks along the way. I’ve been meaning to share some of that long list with you all in hopes that it might be helpful going into the summer months and beyond. Of course, the list changes depending on where/what kind of travel you are doing but many of these things are universal!
Travel essentials list:
LESS IS MORE. Fully pack and then take out at least 1-3 things. Try to leave some room for things you will want to bring home with you from wherever it is you’re going. In other words—leave some space when possible! A good motto in life anyway, not always easy for some of us but ultimately always helpful.
Depending on where I’m going, sometimes I bring things that I’m about to get rid of anyway so I can leave them or give them away.
Travel-size massage gun! Need I say more? It really comes in handy after crunched up long flights or drives. Sore neck/back can lead to headaches and perhaps even pain/challenges with sleeping/walking/all movement which of course you want to be able to do—for all necessary reasons!
An essential oil kit is a must. I have a few that can be used for multiple purposes, like tea tree oil for wounds and bug bites, peppermint for headaches, lavender for soothing/healing burns/scrapes, and several others. EO first aid kit, basically—plus they don’t take up much space!
Matches. Believe it or not, these have come in handy in surprising ways. I also always pack a small candle for meditation and power outages! It’s also really nice to have a candle to light for a bath in a hotel, plus the lavender essential oil (from above mentioned) in the bath!
6. A roll of duct tape for all sorts of things, including if your luggage breaks at the last minute. (Do I sound like a Boy Scout?)
7. Cards/stamps (for thank you notes to people or to mail if needed!). They also are easy to pack and have come in handy in so many surprising ways! A note for the front desk concierge or host of an event, thank you to the tour guide or friend who helped with travel.
8. Tennis ball (or mini-ridged foam roller) for rolling out the kinks—especially if you’re not bringing the above-mentioned massage gun.
9. Always get on a plane with a grapefruit or an orange. Peeling automatically refreshes the air, plus a little dose of Vitamin C never hurts. It’s so refreshing on a flight! I love rubbing the outer rind oils on my hands. (Or a citrus essential oil, mmmm). I also love using a special travel oil blend I make using wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Quality matters when it comes to using essential oils so make sure you know they are pharmaceutical grade. I am happy to share my favorite resources for those—just ask me!
10. A headset is a must for listening to a variety of things. Most people know this one by now but I had to mention it because it’s so helpful. I can recommend this recent episode of The Heallist Podcast, with me as the special guest! It’s called “Ep 5: Finding your self-worth as a healer with Jessica Ruth Shepard, holistic health coach.” A headset is also especially helpful for tuning into some binaural beats to change brain waves. If you are going into different time zones, dealing with long stressful travel days, or need some sleep support, listening to specific kinds of sound can help so much. Also, a meditation app or your own soothing music and audiobooks are great travel buddies! So many helpful options. Thank you, ears and brain : )
11. A wrap/scarf for warmth/air conditioning (or to use as a special pillow).
12. Snacks! Of course. Nuts, bars, carrots, and celery are easy.
13. Supplements, always. A high-potency vitamin C packet to easily mix into a cup of water. Probiotics for gut support and electrolytes for better hydration (flying is extremely dehydrating, did you know that?) And especially easy-to-mix packets of powder. I also like carrying packets of Four Sigmatic!
14. I always bring a glass (or metal) jar with a top! It comes in handy for mixing/shaking various powders with water or for transporting food while in hotel rooms and/or at any time in transit. I love having this with me.
15. Epsom bath salts or CBD bath bombs are also very helpful to use after long flights/drives. Sometimes I just pick up a bag of Epsom salts at a local pharmacy wherever I am but if you’re in foreign countries, it’s not always as easy to get, so I have brought my own. The magnesium in them is so essential. You can also try this Magnesium Breakthrough, use JESS23 for 10% off on checkout. **Also a MUST for restful sleep in the evening and magnesium support: Mineral Calm.
16. Activated charcoal! I always travel with this. It has come in handy many times, as you can use it if you get food poisoning or even eat something “questionable” since it binds to toxins in the body and helps carry them out. It also helps with gas and bloating.
17. No matter what season, flip-flops (or compact slippers) are necessary for hotel stays, or cold floors at whatever places you are staying. I used a pair of flip-flops with a special 007 James Bond-style secret compartment that could hold a key and some cash!
18. Travel diffuser! This is genius for adding those essential oils in weird-smelling places you are staying—it really helps nullify whatever chemical smells may be present in hotel rooms, helps clear the air, and promotes better breathing all around!
19. A tiny fold-up extra tote/bag has helped me more times than I can count, you’d be surprised how often this comes in handy!!
20. Last but not least, coconut oil, a multi-use moisturizer for your hair, face, lips, and whole body, and good for wounds, cooking, and drinks. I love this squeezable one and have used it many times! It is compact and doesn’t take up any space in your luggage.
I hope you find these travel tips helpful, wherever your summer adventures take you! Let me know if you gather any insight or ideas from this and what is helpful for you—or if there is a travel hack you swear by that isn’t listed here, please reply to this message and perhaps I will include your tip for next time!
