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Why I Moved Into My Car to Escape the Scorching Heat—and Found Freedom Up North!
Discover how one bold move turned a heatwave nightmare into the ultimate adventure of freedom, simplicity, and unexpected joy.
Ark
July 23, 2025
Living in a car offers a unique sense of freedom, but it comes with its own set of challenges, especially during extreme heat. As temperatures rise, the impact on mental health and productivity can be profound, particularly for those embracing a nomadic lifestyle. Drawing from personal experiences and scientific insights, this article explores the effects of extreme heat on mental well-being, the realities of living in a car, and strategies for escaping heat waves while maintaining a sense of purpose and balance.
The Mental Toll of Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is more than just a physical discomfort—it can significantly affect mental health and productivity. For someone living in a car, the lack of consistent access to cooling can exacerbate these challenges. High temperatures can lead to irritability, anxiety, and feelings of purposelessness, as one individual described: “Productivity when it’s hot is something that can really mess me up in the head. I really can feel like I have no purpose. I can feel like I’m lazy.”
Research supports these observations. A 2022 study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that days with higher-than-normal temperatures are associated with increased emergency department visits for mental health conditions, including anxiety, mood disorders, and substance use issues. Extreme heat can disrupt sleep, elevate stress hormones like cortisol, and impair cognitive functions such as memory and attention. For those with pre-existing mental health conditions, the risks are even higher, as certain medications, like antidepressants and antipsychotics, can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Living in a car amplifies these challenges. Without reliable air conditioning, the interior of a vehicle can become dangerously hot, forcing tough decisions like running the engine for cooling or seeking alternative shelter. The individual’s account of needing to keep the car running to stay cool highlights this struggle: “We have the engine running. It’s been running for, like, 20 minutes. And every time I turn it off, it’s just way too hot.”
Escaping the Heat: A Nomad’s Strategy
When heat waves strike, staying in one place may not be an option. The individual in this narrative decided to leave northern Wisconsin, where a heat advisory made conditions unbearable, and headed to Minnesota, aiming to get as close to the Canadian border as possible for cooler temperatures. This mobility is a key advantage of van life, allowing individuals to chase more comfortable climates. “It’s definitely cooling down. I’m so glad I decided to come north. Oh my gosh, it feels so much better up here.”
Scientific evidence underscores the importance of such strategies. The World Health Organization notes that heat waves can trigger public health emergencies, with vulnerable populations—like those without access to cooling—facing heightened risks. Moving to cooler regions, such as northern Minnesota or near the Canadian border, can provide relief, as temperatures can drop significantly in these areas compared to southern regions. The individual’s choice to camp near a trailhead by Lake Superior, where temperatures dipped into the 50s, exemplifies an effective way to escape the heat.
Daily Challenges of Car Living: The “Walk of Shame” and Beyond
Living in a car requires adapting to unique daily tasks, such as managing hygiene in unconventional ways. The individual described the necessity of emptying a “pee jug” into a pit toilet—a task they humorously referred to as the “walk of shame.” This task, though mundane, highlights the practical realities of car life, where access to sanitation facilities can be limited. The use of pit toilets, common at remote campsites, provides a discreet solution, but the act of carrying a jug in public can feel awkward and stressful. “Just act normally,” the individual advised, reflecting on their own mishap of getting caught in a door handle while trying to be inconspicuous.
These small but necessary tasks can contribute to mental strain, especially when coupled with extreme heat. Procrastination, as the individual noted, can creep in during hot weather, making it harder to tackle essential chores. Research indicates that heat stress can reduce cognitive performance and increase feelings of frustration, which may explain why tasks like editing or managing daily responsibilities feel more daunting in high temperatures.
Finding Balance: Productivity and Self-Care
Maintaining productivity while living in a car requires flexibility and resilience. The individual’s struggle with editing—a creative task that once felt energizing but now feels like “homework”—reflects the mental shift that comes with this lifestyle. Extreme heat can exacerbate procrastination and feelings of being overwhelmed, as it did for the individual who admitted to delaying editing to watch YouTube livestreams.
To counter these challenges, the individual employed several strategies:
Prioritizing Self-Care: Access to showers, like those at Minnesota state parks, provided a significant mental boost. “After a shower, I just feel like a new woman,” they said, underscoring the importance of hygiene for mental well-being.
Staying Hydrated and Nourished: Eating healthily on the road can be difficult, as the individual found grocery stores overwhelming and initially relied on fast food. Switching to affordable, convenient options like a $6.99 rotisserie chicken from QuickTrip (with a “K”) helped maintain nutrition without the stress of extensive shopping.
Connecting with Nature: Spending time near waterfalls or at scenic trailheads offered moments of calm and perspective. The individual’s love for their lifestyle shone through in these moments: “I really am loving my life lately.”
These strategies align with recommendations from mental health experts, who suggest staying hydrated, seeking shade, and practicing relaxation techniques to manage heat-related stress.
The Bigger Picture: Embracing Risk and Resilience
Living in a car is not just about surviving heat waves or managing daily tasks—it’s about embracing a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom over security. The individual reflected on the fear of stepping out without a guaranteed paycheck but concluded that the greater risk was not trying at all: “What I think is even scarier is not taking any chances and then looking back on my life and wondering, ‘What if I tried something else?’”
This perspective highlights a key aspect of mental resilience: the ability to take calculated risks and adapt to challenges. While extreme heat poses significant risks to mental health and productivity, the nomadic lifestyle offers unique opportunities to mitigate these effects by seeking cooler environments and embracing flexibility. As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves, such adaptability will become even more critical.
Conclusion
Living in a car during extreme heat presents a unique set of challenges, from managing mental health and productivity to navigating daily tasks like hygiene and nutrition. By moving to cooler regions, prioritizing self-care, and maintaining a sense of purpose, individuals can mitigate the effects of heat waves and thrive in their chosen lifestyle. The story of this nomad and their dog, Parker, illustrates the resilience and creativity required to live on the road, offering inspiration for others to embrace both the challenges and the joys of a life less ordinary.
