Last updated on July 21st, 2022 at 03:30 pm

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and it can be the most stressful time, too. But don’t get your tinsel in a tangle over holiday travel.

Whether you’re taking a road trip to Grandma’s or catching a flight home, here are a few essentials you should pack to help you be your best for the holidays.

• Healthy bites: Pack nonperishable, nutritious snacks that are easy to eat on the run like trail mix, low-fat popcorn, and fruit rich with vitamin C. Eating a well-balanced diet while traveling can help you avoid tummy troubles, as well as provide your body with the nutrients needed to fight off germs.
• Hand sanitizer: Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces such as handrails, door handles, and airline tray tables. To help reduce your chances of getting sick, pack hand sanitizer to use when washing your hands isn’t an option.
• Earplugs and eye mask: Your body requires quality sleep for optimal health, but it can be hard to get shut-eye on the road. Use earplugs and an eye mask to block out disturbances from your environment so you can rest more deeply.
• Gym clothes: Traveling disrupts routines, so pack the right clothes to stay on track with your workouts. Exercise can also help lower stress, and according to one study in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise journal, it may prevent the elderly from getting colds and flu.¹
• First aid kit: Be sure to take any necessary prescriptions in your first aid kit. Make sure it’s also stocked with Boiron’s homeopathic medicines. Flu is traditionally most active from December to February, so keep Oscillococcinum on hand in case you start to feel run down or achy like flu is coming on.* The Jet Lag Relief Care Pack is the perfect companion to fight off jet lag symptoms like nausea, drowsiness, or digestive problems.** Pack a tube of Arnicare Gel to combat muscle pain and stiffness from lengthy travel.**

*These “Uses” have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

**Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.

1. Kostka, T., S. E. Berthouze, J-R Lacour, and M. Bonnefoy. “The Symptomatology of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Exercise in Elderly People.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2000, 46-51. doi:10.1097/00005768-200001000-00008.