
Being a digital nomad for the past three years has taught me the importance of traveling light, but also traveling smart.
As a yoga and meditation instructor, I know firsthand how essential it is to stay grounded and calm, no matter where in the world I am.
Whether I’m working from a beachside café in Bali or exploring a new city, the right travel essentials can make all the difference in maintaining my balance, focus, and well-being.
In this article, I’ll share the items that I’ve found to be essential for a calm, comfortable, and connected life on the road—because traveling doesn’t have to mean sacrificing peace of mind.
Outfit and other items
> Small puffer jacket (mine is a sleeveless style from Uniqlo), amazing for chill nights or hikes in the morning. This is to bring with you even when you travel to tropical places. I remember one time when I was traveling through Turkey and we went from Antalya to Cappadocia, we lost around 20 degrees in 5 hours, so I was really happy then to have it with me!
> Bathing suit
> Rain coat or rain poncho: living one year in Bali I came to learn that a good raincoat is always handy
> Good backpack, which can endure rainy weather (mine is from the brand Rains)
> Reusable water bottle: In many countries, water from the tap is not drinkable, and it is essential to always carry some water with you, especially when traveling to warmer and tropical countries, so a reusable water bottle has come in very handy in many situations
> Outfits that you can mix and match: Being a yoga teacher, I wear a lot of leggings and sporty tops, so I always make sure that I pack other items which can pair up nicely with these as well. When traveling a lot, it is important to pack light, otherwise you will soon get hindered by too much luggage
> Eye mask: when it comes to sleep, I really need a completely dark room, and in most places they don’t have shutters, so very early morning the light comes through. It’s great if you want to wake up early, but for the days I want to sleep in I like using an eye mask, and it is super practical if you want to sleep in the plane as well
> Earplugs: when traveling, you can often end up in places which can be a bit noisy, whether it’s in a busy city or deep into nature (if you’ve already spent a night in the jungle, you will know that it can get pretty loud). Earplugs have saved me more than once!
> A good pair of sneakers: always bring a good pair of sneakers with you, you will need them in many situations, whether it is for the days you will be traveling, to go on hikes or just to walk around in comfortable shoes
> A comfortable traveling outfit: one thing that I learned which upgrades your traveling days a lot is wearing a comfortable outfit. Traveling can already get uncomfortable as it is, especially when you go to far away places, so wearing something in which you can move in and which keeps you warm really is a game change. I always wear some sort of sweatpants with a super comfortable warm sweater, especially when I fly somewhere, since they always crank up the AC in the plane and in airports
Beauty products
> Good face cleanser (I love mine from the brand Himalaya Wellness): when traveling you can easily be exposed to places where you have a lot of dust, or sweat a lot, or polluted cities, so it is all the more important to have a good cleanser for your skin to remove all of the impurities accumulated during the day
> Good face oil or cream (I use an Ayurvedic kinshukadi oil), chances are your skin is going to be challenged a lot, from the AC in the plane and airports, to the change of temperature and climate that you are going through rapidly, so it deserves a lot of love and care
> Hand cream: in a lot of countries the water can be very drying, even more so if you go regularly in the pool or swim in the ocean. The change of temperature and climate has an impact on your whole body, so your hands can become dry very easily. You just need to apply some cream once right before going to bed, so that you make sure you don’t wash your hands afterwards for some time
> Shea butter: as I said before, the water, the climate and the temperature have an effect on your skin, so make sure to hydrate it thoroughly. Shea butter is amazing for that, and you can also use it on your lips, which makes it a 2 in 1 product, perfect for when you want to reduce the amount of what you carry with you
Personal items
> Bring a good book: I love unwinding after a busy day, reading a good book in bed right before going to sleep. Also really nice to read by the pool, at the beach, in airports, etc.
> Traveling a lot, it’s important to carry items which make you feel grounded, which help you get a sense of stability and balance. For me, it’s my yoga mat, my stones and my oracle deck cards. I love to build an altar whenever I arrive in a new place, where I usually put my stones, my cards, some of my beauty products, some incense, etc. It makes me feel more at home instantly. And of course, being a yoga and meditation teacher, my yoga mat is essential, not only for the classes that I teach, but my practice is also a way for me to ground myself and cultivate inner peace everyday.
Traveling isn’t just about exploring new places—it’s about creating a lifestyle that nurtures yourself and your well-being.
By carrying the right essentials, you can maintain that sense of calm, grounding, and connection, no matter where you go. The items I’ve shared with you in this article have been key in helping me stay balanced and maintain some sense of comfort as I navigate this nomadic life.
I hope that it will also help you feel more centered and at ease during your travels, so you can fully embrace the adventure ahead.
Safe travels, and remember—wherever you go, bring your calm with you.
With love,
Elodie