Notes from the edges of travel.
Essays on travel psychology, destination fit, and the quieter mechanics of planning a trip that actually suits who you are.
Why your trip can feel like it “wasn't as good as theirs”
June 18, 2026You came home happy — then scrolled, and your good trip felt like a letdown. The Olympic-medal effect explains why.
Post-Trip PsychologyThe gap-year paradox: why long-term travelers struggle most coming home
June 16, 2026The trips that change you most are the hardest to come home from. Why the best journeys can produce the flattest returns.
Comparison & Social MediaHow comparing yourself to others can spoil a trip you're on
June 13, 2026Scrolling other people's feeds while you travel can spoil the trip you're on. The mechanism, and how to stop it in the moment.
Post-Trip PsychologyThe happiness fade: why vacation benefits disappear so fast
June 10, 2026The vacation tank empties faster than you think. Why the benefit fades — and the evidence-based way to make travel last.
Post-Trip PsychologyWhy coming back from studying abroad is so hard
June 7, 2026The semester abroad ends and the weeks back home feel worse than the foreign country ever did. What the research actually measured.
Post-Trip PsychologyHow long post-vacation blues actually last
June 4, 2026For most people, post-vacation blues last days, not weeks. The timeline from the research, and when it's more than the blues.
Post-Trip PsychologyReverse culture shock: why coming home feels strange
June 1, 2026You braced for culture shock going out — not for the version that hits coming home. The W-curve, explained.
Post-Trip PsychologyWhy anticipating a trip feels better than the trip itself
May 29, 2026A large share of a holiday's happiness arrives before you leave. The research on anticipation, and how to get more of it.
Post-Trip PsychologyWhy you feel sad after a great vacation
May 26, 2026The post-vacation dip is real and measurable. Why coming home feels flat — and why it isn't a sign the trip was wasted.