You can tell what I think of the actual commuting day.

It’s the worst.

I can enjoy the first couple of hours sitting at an airport, but after that, it’s sheer misery. Here’s a few tips to help survive those days –

1. Know it is going to suck –

For some reason, I used to always think I could find a way to love travel days. I finally accepted that it was going to be rough, I was gonna feel all down and icky all day but you know the next day was going to be better. It helped to have this perspective actually because I stopped stressing about how icky I felt all day.

2. Wear what you want –

I go comfies all the way. I also don’t love looking like a bum, so I make sure my hair looks cute, either curled or straightened. Contacts are the worst on the plane, so I wear glasses, with my contacts along for when I want to feel alive at any point. Those planes are cold so I always bring a sweater or sweatshirt no matter how hot it is outside.

3. Travel pillow –

It’s gotten to the point that I don’t even go on an hour drive without my travel pillow. Here’s my favorite one: Evolution Travel Pillow.

4. Go in sleepy –

I’m not sure this is the best idea, but I go in to the travel day tired because it helps me sleep the whole time on the plane. But I’m the kind of person you probably hate who falls asleep before take-off and wakes up at landing. But it helps if I start the day with only about four hours of sleep. I learned this one accidentally since I always pack last-second so I have to stay up all night to finish laundry and pack anyway. But it kind of helps. For me, maybe not for you.

5. Keep in touch with a few friends –

I have a few go-to girlfriend sisters who I Snapchat, MarcoPolo, and text absolutely ridiculous things all day. It’s super great and comforting to know that when I’m at my wit’s end I can tell them every random detail about the person behind me in line making a scene and they can laugh with me at their convenience.

6. Find the secret room –

Don’t settle for your gate, explore a little and find a spot that is relaxing to you. In one of the airports I frequent there is a yoga room, which I don’t do yoga but it’s a miracle because it is an absolutely quiet room with a bunch of foam rollers where I can relax and stretch alone. It helps immeasurably.

7. Start traditions –

I have my favorite little food spots that I have come to look forward to eating at at each of my frequented airports. Miami has great little Cuban restaurants, I love to get my salted mangoes. I almost always eat orange chicken every lunch I spend in an airport, and I look forward to it. It’s fun how little traditions can go a long way. Also, eating at one of the sit-down restaurants in an airport isn’t much more expensive than buying a turkey sandwich (because they’re crazy expensive) so I sometimes let myself sit down and eat at a fancy spot during a layover.

8. Bring your own snacks –

Aaaand for those of you non-planners out there like me, this is one area I’ve learned really pays to plan because you’re going to get hungry and you’re not going to want to pay 20 dollars for a pack of almonds. An exaggeration, but still. Just be careful of peanut butter they usually take that away from me.

What are your travel tips for surviving the actual travel day?