When you have a long flight ahead the things you put in your carry-on bag can make a huge difference between feeling tired and arriving relatively fresh. Here is what actually works for most people.

First of all take a good neck pillow. Not the cheap inflatable ones but something that supports your head properly. Many travelers also pack a soft eye mask and earplugs or noise cancelling headphones. These three items help you sleep even when the cabin lights are on and people are moving around.

Comfortable clothes are essential. Wear loose layers so you can adjust to temperature changes. Bring an extra pair of socks, a light scarf and a hoodie or warm sweater. Changing into fresh socks halfway through a long flight feels surprisingly nice. Dont forget a small pack of wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Planes can be dry and not always as clean as we would like.

For entertainment and focus pack a fully charged power bank, your charger and a long cable. Download movies, podcasts or audiobooks before the flight because wifi is not always reliable. A good book or an e-reader is also great because sometimes you just want to switch off screens.

Snacks matter more than you think. Bring nuts, dark chocolate, protein bars or dried fruit. Airport food is expensive and not always tasty. A collapsible water bottle is useful too, you can fill it after security and stay hydrated during the flight.

Small comfort items make a big difference. Lip balm, moisturizer, tooth brush and toothpaste, plus any medicines you might need like painkillers or motion sickness tablets. Some people also pack a pair of compression socks for very long flights to help with legs swelling.

Put everything in a small organized bag inside your carry-on so you dont have to dig through everything when you need something. Many experienced travelers say that having your carry-on well prepared turns a long flight from something you dread into something you can actually manage quite comfortably.

If you pack these essentials you will feel much better when you finally land after many hours in the air.