Travel Pillow A Life Upgrade I Didn’t Know I Needed

Of all the things I wasted my money on, I never bought a travel pillow. So for the longest time, I convinced myself I didn’t need this, earplugs, or a travel backpack.

And the truth is that I didn’t. My flights were always acceptable, and I am always ready to use up points to bump into a direct flight whenever possible. But there I was, in the airport, delirious after gulping my sleepy nighttime tea before immigration, nursing the burnt tongue of drinking the said tea too fast. I saw an array of travel pillows. 2 for 45 or 2 for 99. Who travels with two travel pillows?

I remembered my 8-hour flight to Singapore, followed by the 4-hour flight to Chennai, followed by the 2-hour flight to Goa, followed by a rehearsal dinner in Goa, followed by cousins’ pyjama party, followed by cousin W’s wedding, followed by the same flights back to Melbourne. I remembered being almost dead when I reached the office.

It made me realise that I need extra support at this age. Other than the tea and the Travelmate sleepless jet lag pill, I mean. Also, Amanda told me so.

Then, I sent a tweet: should I get a travel pillow? Or will this be another one of my travel sins?

I, of course, didn’t get any reply because I’m not Blake Lively. So, I went to the waiting room, but I was too early, which is another side effect of being this age. So, I walked back to the bookstore and browsed every book available.

Still tempted by the travel pillow, I weighed my options: it might be another stupid thing in my closet or a game-changer. Then, of course, I should have googled the review, but it is seriously past midnight, you guys.

I did the test: squishiness, foldability, a pocket to save the phone, and colour. After what felt like a long consideration, I took the pink one to the cashier only to tell them I would change it to black. Felt like it would be more durable for droll and being dumped into the inside of my backpack.

I paid for it with a magazine called Collective when I saw the first sentence about buying unnecessary things (what a cliche). I hooked my brand-new travel pillow into my bag and later took it off to hook it onto my neck immediately after reaching my seat. I immediately regretted not buying the noise cancellation plug as I was seated beside a talkative couple. 

Anyway, I just woke up, and I’m still wearing this travel pillow thingy on my neck and hotel slippers on my feet, and let me tell you, it’s a freaking game-changer.

I slept so much better without any neck pain that I usually feel from my head bobbing. Life has been upgraded, and merely 99$ for two travel pillows.

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