Rituals, Essentials, Mindset: How Travel Influences My Work
Apr 26, 2026
Last weekend I flew back from India to the USA.
I arrived at my house on Monday, but I’d already started thinking about what I wanted to share with you while I was in the clouds, 30,000 feet above the ocean, crossing timelines, crossing back to my old life.
(Well, not quite my old life.)
While I was in the sky, my housekeeper cleaned and prepped for me. My car battery had died, and my friend who watered my plants helped get it replaced, making sure it was one less thing I needed to worry about. A friend (and client) offered to pick me up from the airport…
And it felt good to have so many women stepping up to support me.
Originally, I planned to write about a very specific aspect of my programs and work this week. I wanted to pull back the curtain even further — but somehow that felt less important the closer I got to home.
Because this life is my work. I live my work. I breathe my work. (Yes, even in stale, recycled airplane air.) ;)
And so much of what I’ve learned connects to this willingness to travel and see the world from a 30,000-foot view.
For me, traveling — especially to places like India, with a culture so different from the Western model of success — has been one of the most profound teachers I’ve ever had. Not because it’s “exotic” in some superficial way, or because it underscores how privileged I am for everything I’ve had access to, but because it breaks the illusion that the way I live is the only way to be.
My mentor Sadhguru says it the best:
“The limitations we live within aren’t usually physical — they’re perceptual. We think the world is the way we see it. We think our problems are the biggest problems. We think our way of living is the only way to live.”
So, on that note I’d love to give you two perspectives…
The first is a reflection on my trip in my first days back from India: what I’m missing, what it’s taught me, and how that makes me feel.
You can listen to that here.
The second is a more practical guide to traveling: the essentials I use to cherish every moment, the practices I use to slow down and absorb the privilege (even in moments of stress) — how it all sets me free from perceptual limitations…
And how it can set you free too.
Scroll on for more…
My Long-Haul Travel Essentials…
First let’s start with a list of those physical essentials (because you can’t be present and truly appreciate, when you’re physically uncomfortable).
One thing I always bring (which is kind of a girly thing but there’s no reason why men can’t enjoy this too!) is a cashmere blanket or shawl. The one I have is stunning, and packs down well, and completely envelopes me when the temperature drops on a flight.
I believe it’s important to travel in natural fibers as much as possible. A huge luxury, but one I’m mildly obsessed with, is my cashmere turtleneck. (It makes me feel like a million dollars even when my hair needs brushing after 38 hours.)
Shoes can be a challenge to pack, but light socks or slippers help, especially if you find your feet cold on long-haul flights.
I don’t drink alcohol, so going without is my norm, but because cabin air is kept at a super low humidity point (below 20% — outdoor air is 40–60%) I still find, if I’m not careful, the loss of water can lead to feeling drained, digestive sluggishness, and play havoc with my skin.
(Electrolytes also lower the risk of DVTs, which is always something to consider if you’re on a long-haul flight.)
Face-Masks and Handcream
For the same reason as above, airplane air is drying on my skin. (Weleda is a gorgeously natural brand, and I absolutely love their things.)
I wear this all year round, but If you have a long haul flight coming up, it’s worth treating yourself. ;) This one is packed with botanical oils: coconut, argan, castor seed, jojoba, and sunflower, plus pomegranate extract and shea butter.
Rosewater is grounding, moisturising, and helps give me clarity. I gently mist it on my face for a refreshing hydrating treat, and soak up the fragrance.
How I Stay Occupied on Long Haul Flights…
Long haul flights are actually some of my most productive and reflective times. Rather than scroll for the latest blockbuster I often practice guided meditations while I’m flying. (After all, if you’re already suspended in space and time, why not use it to go inward?!)
I also believe wherever you are in the world — whether land, ocean or air — it’s important to connect to nature as much as possible. That means, when flying I pull up the blind and absorb the sunrise and the sunset. I get up regularly and stretch…
And depending on my energy, I’ll either work on something inspired and reflective — or just read, listen, and absorb.
A Simple Practice to Shift Your Energy on a Trip
I’m lucky enough to enjoy traveling and embrace the experience, but I know not everybody feels that way… If you travel a lot for work rather than play, for example, you might view it as a necessary inconvenience, and feel pushed and pulled in many different directions.
So, here’s a simple ritual I swear by, that can help take the stress out of travelling:
- Before I leave, I thank the place I’ve been in.
- I consciously surrender to the journey as an adventure.
- And I make a choice right there before I walk out the door to enjoy the process.
A Few Practical Tips to Make it Easier
These may sound obvious, but it took a few long-haul flights to realise the value.
- Check the weather where you’re going. And pack consciously based on what you’ll actually need, not what you think you might need.
Especially important if you’re going from one climate to another or one season to another — and your brain needs to switch from winter to summer mode.
- Make lists, and keep one especially for ‘Travel Essentials’ in your notes app that you can add to every time you travel long distances.
Again, ultra simple, but eliminates the mental load of trying to remember everything.
- Get a travel credit card that gives you miles for both business and personal.
Basic I know, but it adds up fast!
- Invest in a club membership (like an airport lounge) if you travel often.
It’s worth every single penny for the quiet, the Wi-Fi, and the sanity it brings you.
Where I’m Headed Next…
I’ve got a couple of business trips coming up in the US, Austin, Texas, for 10 days, for some speaking training and transformational event training…
I’m also supporting volunteer activities for a larger transformational event in May…
I’d love to get back to Montana for a summer art festival and hiking in the summer. (The mountains there are one of my happiest places in the US.)
Then in September it’s back to India.
But right now, honestly, all I can think about is getting back into my groove here in Boise, picking up with my clients — and the next phase of this incredible, incredible journey we’re all on together.
Safe travels wherever you’re headed this year!
P.S. In this week’s Audiopost I’m going deep on how it really feels to leave one of my most beloved places on earth.
It’s called:
On Loving (And Leaving) India: Everything I’m Taking With Me That Won’t Fit in My Bag.
And you can listen here.
