“I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life, wherever you are.” -  Diane von Furstenberg

Summer is here, and for many of us, that means going away on holiday for some much-needed R&R. Whether you’re heading to tropical climates or staying close to home, consider what you can pack in your suitcase and carry-on to ensure ultimate relaxation while away. Here’s how to pack for your most calming trip ever:

A watch

Many of us rely on our mobile phone to tell the time when we’re out and about these days, and when we go on holiday it can be tempting to carry our phone around with us, fiddling with it throughout the day. The answer? Take a watch on holiday with you to tell the time and leave your phone in your accommodation instead. This will limit your phone usage while on holiday, ultimately leading to you focusing more on the experiences, chatting to loved ones about what you are seeing and doing, and so on. Pack a watch for an easy way to do a digital detox on holiday.

An eye mask

Moving from plane seat to hotels, BnBs, log cabins or wherever you stay during your trip, can affect your sleeping pattern. Many people report struggling to sleep when they are in an unfamiliar bed, and this can affect your enjoyment while on holiday. Taking an eye mask with you (and perhaps even a set of earplugs) could help you drift off wherever necessary, allowing you to block out unfamiliar surroundings and sounds, and enjoy more hours of slumber when you need to conserve energy for sightseeing. Our SLEEP WELL Essentials Set is perfect for those looking for a restorative sleep while on the road, containing a silk eye pillow to block out sunlight, and our award-winning Sleep Well Balm.

Apps to limit social media

This one isn’t something you would need to pack, but it’s pretty helpful nonetheless. Sometimes avoiding your phone altogether isn’t possible while out and about, as it can come in handy for finding out about the local area, navigating a map and even helping with language barriers. If you need your phone but don’t want to be checking Facebook every few minutes, download an app to help limit your social media usage while traveling. The Forest app is a great one, as it plants a virtual tree that grows for as long as you avoid your phone. They even partner with an organization that plants real trees when you spend virtual coins that you earn in Forest, so your lack of social media time could benefit the environment.

A good book (or two)

If reading is your meditation, then a book is a must-pack for any holiday. Research actually suggests that people who read more live longer on average, but for many of us, going on holiday and lying on a sun lounger for long hours of the day is the only time we read. It’s the perfect way to feel calm and relaxed while learning something new or getting stuck into a great story at the same time. Pack a book in your hand luggage for the plane journey, or if you want to take a few, consider an eReader so you never run out of reading material while away from home.

Scentered Balms

Holidays can be an incredibly refreshing and relaxing time, but they’re not always a walk in the park. From being nervous when flying to figuring out a language barrier, to spending lots of time in an enclosed space with family members, sometimes we need a little helping hand to feel calm, centered and ready to take on any adventure. Our award-winning balms are just the thing to pack for your vacation; awaken fully refreshed thanks to SLEEP WELL, apply HAPPY to start your day with a boost of good feelings, and use DE-STRESS to stay calm and in control of any situation - using these balms as part of your holiday ritual means that, upon returning home, they can draw out amazing memories and transport you back to those good times when you need a pick-me-up.

What will you pack for a relaxing vacation this summer? Connect with us on social media and let us know how you holiday.