I used to dread flying to Japan to see my family because that meant being stuck on a plane for at least 14 hours. Now, I don’t mind it so much. I like that I can relax, read, watch movies, work and sleep. Of course, I have to make sure that I’m ready for my long flight. These are the steps I take and things I bring with me to survive a long international flight:

1. Get an Aisle Seat

I like having the freedom of getting up whenever I want to; especially on international flights. Plus, I have to use the bathroom often, so it gives me peace of mind that I can go without having to worry about bothering anyone else. If you’re worried about the passengers next to you bothering you to get out, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Most of the time, they get up the same time you do or sleep most of the way.

2. Bring Reading Material

I rarely have time to read, so bringing a book with me on flights is a must because it’s one of the occasions I have time to read. Our friend and fellow traveler, Ginger on the Go, has a monthly book club subscription so she is our go-to for book recommendations. Currently, she recommends these books: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Leavers or Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood.

3. Download a Bunch of Netflix and Amazon Prime Shows

I am so thankful that Netflix and Amazon Prime lets you download TV shows and movies to your smart device. I can catch up on all my favorite shows like The Crown or watch re-runs of Sex and the City. Another way to make the time go by super fast.

4. Charge All Your Devices and Portable Chargers

Some planes have outlets or USB outlets underneath your seat but just in case they don’t, I make sure to bring all my portable chargers like the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger and ChargeTech Portable AC Outlet Batter Pack.

5. Get Everything Prepped on Your Laptop

If you're planning on using your laptop, make sure you have everything you need downloaded and ready to go. I catch up on a lot of blog work in-flight and often times need the internet for research and reference. I go ahead and download and save all my research so I'll have everything ready to go once I'm ready to work. You can most likely get wifi on the plane but I often find the service to be spotty and slow.

6. Neck Pillow

This is such a huge essential for me. Without it, I would not be able to sleep on a plane. Neck pillows used to not work for me until I found the Cabeau Evolution Travel Pillow. It’s sold at airports and also various online stores and it is a lifesaver. I sleep like a baby with this thing and it makes the time go by so much faster on the flight.

7. Bring an Eye Mask or Get the Betabrand Redeye Wrap

It's guaranteed that the guy sitting next to you is going to have the TV or light on the whole time you're on the flight. To avoid that annoying light, you need a good eye mask. I always bring the Betabrand Redeye Wrap with me on my travels. It works as a blanket and an eye mask, so if you forget to bring an eye mask, you’re covered with this wrap. Another bonus with the Redeye Wrap is that it comes with huge pockets with zippers where you can store your passport, boarding tickets, earphones and even an iPad!

8. Bring Healthy Foods

I’m not a big fan of airplane food, so I usually bring trail mix, granola bars and other healthy snacks to keep me full.

9. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Drink water as much as you can. Dehydration is a major issue; especially on long-haul flights. On a 10-hour flight, men can lose approximately two litres of water and women around 1.6 litres. You should be drinking about 8 ounces of water for every hour you're in the air.

10. Try L’Occitaine's Relaxing Oil

If you get a little anxious about flying, try L'Occitaine's Lavender Relaxing Roll-On. Candy still gets a little anxious whenever she travels and this relaxing organic lavender essential oil has helped ease some of her anxiety. Research has revealed that the essential oil of lavender can be useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, and restlessness. Check out some of L'Occitaine's other great travel products HERE.

With these 10 tips, your long international flight will fly by!