Travel, Optimized
My expert tips for flying first class for less, beating jet lag and packing like a minimalist without sacrificing your skincare routine.
I’ve always had a tight travel game. Think George Clooney’s hyper-efficient character in Up in the Air but with a better wardrobe and chicer destinations.
I know how to book flights that don’t ruin your circadian rhythm, skip connections like a pro, and even fit two weeks of wardrobe into a carry-on without sacrificing style or my skincare routine.
Even my travel companions are curated. Some friends are delightful — just not airport-compatible. We meet at the destination because traveling with them feels like herding cats through TSA. You know who you are.
Traveling well is both art and science. After two decades of frequent flying and now, as a health optimization coach — I’ve picked up a few strategies worth sharing.
Fly First on Miles, not Points
As a petite person without a lot of luggage, I don’t mind flying economy on short trips because I splurge on premium fares when I fly to Europe or Asia.
Being able to lie flat and actually sleep on a long-haul transatlantic flight makes a big difference in how you feel when you land.
Pro-tip: Do not book travel in your credit card portal. Find the best reward ticket you can on a points and miles search engine like PointYeah or Points.me. Then transfer points into airline miles to book your ticket for the best redemption rates.
Read below for the exact points strategy I used to book $35K of first class tickets for $658 ⬇️
Jet Lag is a Choice
Bold statement, I know. But once you understand how to work with your circadian rhythm, jet lag can be so greatly reduced that it doesn’t affect your trip at all.
Jet lag is brain fatigue so using creatine helps to recycle ATP, the energy currency in your brain cells. The day before and the day of your trip take 10g of creatine in two 5g doses with a lot of water. With multiple time zone shifts, you can add 20g per day for short term relief from brain fog.
Pro-tip: The Time Shifter app shows you how to precisely leverage light, caffeine and melatonin to allow your body to quickly adapt to shifting time zones.
Read below for more jet lag hacks ⬇️
Travel Essentials
The key to optimizing your carry-on, even for longer trips, is to have a proper container for everything, and using the smallest one to do the job. Below some other items that are always in my essentials kit.
Muji Gusset Cases (aka packing cubes) help you evenly use every inch of space by keeping clothes neatly folded without shifting around in your suitcase. Makes unpacking a breeze because you can pull out your stack of t-shirts and transfer directly to the hotel shelf.
A Muji Clear Case is what I put my passport, global entry card, wired ear phones, notepad and pen plus a few extra luggage tags.
The Parcel by Cadence (in medium) is a TSA-size toiletries bag that doubles as a vanity tray. If you have two, they magnetize together (genius!) Being able to see everything inside is so helpful and using their capsules means you can fit even more products in less space.
Merit Flush Balm is a multi-purpose blush that is also great on lips. The packaging is very light so doesn’t weigh down your make-up bag.
Thorne Stick Packs of creatine and electrolytes are super convenient for travel (for 20% off use my dispensary).
Lineage Air Dried Steak (code CELIACHEN for 16% off today) is the delicious protein snack that’s more elevated than a meat stick for discerning palettes that want a healthy snack.
Beekeepers Nasal Spray soothes your nasal passages on dry airplanes and keep germs at bay. It has a potent dose of propolis and xylitol. I never travel without it and I never get sick.
Dore & Rose Deep Sleep Mask is super soft and doesn’t leave marks on your face. It’s adjustable and covers your ears making it easier to block out all light and noise, especially on planes.
Kroma 24K Chicken Broth Sachets & Frother for matcha. Drinking hot broth on planes is a great way to get protein in an easier format. Digestion is affected when you fly so I limit the amount of food I eat. The battery powered frother helps me blend my powders in my matcha to keep my supplement routine on track!
All of you optimizers, I’d love to hear what you can’t leave home without and any other tricks of the trade. Help this community by dropping a comment below. Happy Summer! xCelia
Kroma broth and the creatine tips sound like game changers!
Great tips! Especially the creatine one!