India, Oct. 13 -- Coming from someone whose favourite colour is black and whose wardrobe is easily over 50% black, packing for Sri Lanka's tropical heat was an absolute wake-up call.

When planning my trip for October, I quickly realised my usual dark-toned wardrobe wasn't going to cut it in Sri Lanka's intense heat and high humidity. I decided to be smart about my packing list, swapping out dark, heavy clothes for light pastel shades and loose, natural, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. (Also, thankfully, a little last-minute research and warnings from friends who'd returned from Sri Lanka covered in sweat saved me from making a big mistake before I even packed my suitcase.

Here is why dropping dark clothing saved my energy, how...