3 things I regretted not packing for a 12-hour flight from Colorado to Tokyo

Cramping legs, tired eyes, and exhaustion could've been avoided if Insider's author remembered to pack items like a paperback book and compression socks.Monica Humphries/Insider/BraunS/Getty Images

• This spring, I boarded a 12-hour flight from Denver, Colorado, to Tokyo, Japan.
• It wasn't my first long-haul flight, but it taught me that I'm still mastering my packing list.

I have made tremendous strides when it comes to packing.

At one point in life, I was a serial overpacker. I'd stuff clothes into my suitcase to the point where the only souvenirs I could bring home were the photos on my phone.

I'd bring shoes and clothes thinking maybe one night I'd want to dress up. I never did, and instead would return home with unworn, wrinkly dresses.

In the past year, I've slowly gotten better at packing. I've learned to bring a wardrobe that focuses on one color and hold myself back when I debate packing more than two pairs of shoes.

But I haven't completely mastered the skill just yet. On a recent 12-hour flight to Tokyo, I spent too much time regretting the decision not to pack items like compression socks and books.