You’re sitting on a plane, waiting for take-off, when suddenly grief hits you like a wave, stronger than it has in days. Or you’re driving along a German motorway in August, the windows down, when a song comes on that brings back memories, making you want to pull over and cry.

Both of these moments are real experiences I've had – one after losing my mum, and the other after losing my husband. Grief doesn’t wait for a perfect time, and travelling in the heat can make everything feel harder.

Over the years, I’ve faced my fair share of travel challenges – long road trips across Europe with my husband, long-haul flights, visits to friends abroad, and the excitement of exploring new countries.

But in recent years, travelling while grieving has added a whole new layer of complexity.

When we’re grieving, travel is no longer just about getting from A to B. It’s about trying to find a way to hold onto some sense of stability and control, when everything else feels unpredictable, draining, and – at times – downright exhausting.

What nobody told me was how grief and summer heat can combine in such a way that everything becomes even harder to manage. It’s a perfect storm, one that I’ve had to navigate and learn from along the way.

What’s Really Going On?

From an Ayurvedic perspective, we are made up of three fundamental energies (or ‘doshas’): Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Grief naturally increases Vata dosha, the air energy that governs movement, the nervous system, and our senses. There’s a reason for this: when Vata rises, our minds and senses are more open to subtle experiences, helping us feel closer to our loved ones ‘on the other side’.

Travel disrupts all three energies, but Vata is particularly sensitive to change because of its mobile, light, and “airy” nature. Too much movement – whether from travel, stress, or even over-exercising – easily knocks Vata out of balance, which then affects the other energies as well.

This is why we often feel ungrounded, overstimulated, and overly sensitive when we’re grieving and on the move.

And then there’s summer. It’s when Pitta, the energy of heat and transformation, is naturally high. When Vata’s air fans Pitta’s fire, the result is dryness, irritability, depletion, and even complete burnout. It’s a recipe for emotional overwhelm.

The Good News?

It doesn’t have to be this way. With a few simple practices, you can create a sense of stability and calm while travelling, even in the heat of summer.

6 Ayurvedic Travel Tips To Calm Your Nerves and Beat the Heat

1. Grounding for a Clear, Calm Mind

Take a few minutes before every trip to settle and centre yourself:

• Massage your feet with warm sesame or coconut oil. Sesame oil is deeply grounding, while coconut oil cools an overheated mind and body.
• Try a few rounds of deep belly breathing. If possible, combine this with Alternate Nostril Breathing – a simple yet powerful way to balance both body and mind.
• Spend a moment in nature before you leave – hug a tree, walk barefoot on grass, or simply sit quietly outdoors. These small rituals can help ground you.

2. Stick to Simple, Light Foods at Regular Times

Summer heat weakens our digestion. Blood is diverted to the skin to help cool us down, and excess Vata can cause our digestion to fluctuate.

• Avoid processed foods and heavy, oily meals – they can make your digestion even more sluggish.
• Stick to light, easy-to-digest meals at regular intervals – start establishing this routine before travelling and maintain it throughout your journey (this free download with recipes can help).
• Make sure all your meals are fibre-rich – foods like lentils, vegetables, and wholegrains support healthy digestion, and help stabilise your energy levels and mood.

3. Hydration is Key

Dehydration quickly throws Vata and Pitta out of balance, leaving you feeling anxious (or irritable) and drained.

• Make preparing a flask of herbal tea part of your morning routine – tulsi, mint, or hibiscus are excellent choices for cooling summer drinks.
• Avoid cold water or iced teas and coffees – these are detrimental to your digestive system, especially around mealtimes.
• Enhance plain water by adding a pinch of rock salt and a wedge of lime for better hydration.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol – they are dehydrating and increase Pitta energy, which amplifies heat and irritability.

4. Listen To Your Body's Natural Urges

Don't ignore your body's needs. Suppressing natural urges, like pooping and peeing, makes Vata imbalance worse and can leave you feeling more emotionally unstable.

• Embrace toilet breaks as opportunities to stretch and move your lymph, clearing toxins and energetic or emotional 'blockages'.
• Avoid sitting for long periods – prolonged stillness can cause emotions to become stuck, leading to sudden emotional overwhelm when you finally get moving again.

5. Soothe Your Senses While Travelling

While travelling, use sensory comforts to calm your mind and bring Vata energy down:

• Keep a grounding essential oil on hand – lavender or Vata-balancing blends work well. Inhale whenever you feel unsettled.
• Pack a soft shawl for warmth and comfort
• Create a calming playlist or mantra to listen to during your journey.

6. Rebuild Rhythm on Arrival

When you reach your destination, focus on re-establishing stability:

• Align with local meal times. If possible, find accommodation with a kitchen so you can maintain your nourishing eating routine.
• Rest and take a gentle walk in nature – this helps ground Vata energy and reset your nervous system after travel.
• Create a calming evening routine: swap Netflix or scrolling for a warm Epsom salt bath, soothing music, or gentle yoga stretches to unwind before bed.
• Aim for bed by 10pm (11pm at the latest) to restore balance overnight. Placing your palm gently on your navel in bed activates your parasympathetic nervous system, helping you fall asleep and stay asleep more easily.

Practical Support: My Travel Survival Kit

These adjustments become much easier when you're prepared. Here's what I always pack to maintain my routine and emotional stability while travelling:

For nourishment:

• Travel-friendly food flasks for soups or stews (or risottos/cooked quinoa with veg to get your meal past airport security)
• A tea flask for herbal teas
• Quick breakfast items like popped grains, raisins, almond milk, and seed mixes to avoid unhealthy airport or service station snacks
• Easy meal basics – tinned lentils or beans, a few travel-friendly veggies, herbs, and spices for nourishing, fibre-rich meals

For calming your senses and nerves:

• Essential oils (Frankincense, Jasmine Sambac, and Vata Aroma Oil)
• Offline meditation or mantra recordings – I use the 'Ham' mantra meditation
• A small packet of Epsom salts for evening foot baths

Showing Up For Yourself Wherever You Are

Grief, summer heat, and constant movement can create a real challenge. But it’s not about being rigid with these tips – it’s about noticing when you need to pause and care for yourself. 

Start small. Choose 2-3 tips that feel most manageable and build from there. Small moments of calm, rest, and nourishment can make all the difference when you're in an airport lounge, a hotel room, or on a train.

Self-care while travelling isn't a luxury; it's essential support while you are healing. With gentle, supportive rituals, grief can travel alongside you without overwhelming your experience.

When You Need More Support

Summer heat can intensify – or cause new - grief symptoms which can take us by surprise – more emotional volatility (frustration or anger), changing sleep disturbances, new or more intense digestive issues, or feeling more overwhelmed than usual. These symptoms don't have to dictate how you feel this season.

Through my comprehensive Health Review, we can uncover the root causes of these imbalances and create a personalised plan that truly supports you while grieving in summer.

I've also created a helpful guide with nourishing summer drink recipes specifically designed to calm your nervous system and keep both your mind and body cool during the warmer months.

Summer doesn't have to feel unbearably hot and overwhelming. With small, intentional steps, you can make summer travel – and the season itself – feel more manageable while grieving, whether you're on the go or staying close to home.