The WanderList: The most overlooked part of packing
+ the ultimate packing list to help you master the art of re-entry
Hi! I’m Katie, a cultural and social psychologist—but you can think of me as your BFF with a PhD. I’m also a travel curator, and I explore the magic that happens when you step out and into the world. Here, I unpack the psychology of travel—how it can heal, reveal, and transform us. If you’re craving more meaning, more beauty, or simply a shift in perspective, you’re in the right place. Thank you so much for being here.
Before every trip, I’ve started asking myself a different kind of packing question.
How do I want to feel…
…when I come home?
(Honestly? Isn’t this entirely on brand for what any good homebody would do?)
Anyone can stuff clothes in a suitcase.
Anyone can “just throw some clothes in a bag” (the literal word-for-word packing advice I received from my partner last time we traveled).
But, packing with intention is something else entirely.
And, as an Enneagram 5, I’m all about it.
It’s part preparation.
Part romantic ritual.
Part love letter (or postcard, if you’d rather) to your future self.
It’s a way of turning the whole experience of travel (not just the leaving and the actual trip itself but also the return) into something more thoughtful.
Psychologists who study transitions and liminal spaces often emphasize the emotional impact of endings and returns—not just the beginnings and middles we so often fixate on.
When we offer ourselves intentionality (and a few simple comforts) during moments of change, we support our nervous system in regulating and integrating the experience with more ease and grace.
And, coming home is absolutely one of those pivotal moments of change when traveling.
Packing, at its core, doesn’t stop at visualizing how you're going to feel while you’re away.
A truly supportive pre-trip ritual also includes thoughtful consideration of how you want to feel when you walk back through the door.
Our environment plays a powerful role in shaping our mood, energy, and overall well-being.
The small decisions we make before we leave—the things we set aside, how we prepare our space for re-entry—become part of the emotional architecture of the whole journey itself.
How you re-enter matters just as much as how you depart.
This is the part we often forget.
You’re not only leaving.
You’re also coming back.
And, your future self deserves a soft place to land when she does.
Think of all the little ways a beautiful hotel room anticipates your needs at arrival.
Why not do the same for yourself at home?
Prepare your home the way a great hotel would.
With thought.
With care.
With small comforts in all the right places.
You are going to have so much to do when you get home—unpacking, mountains of laundry, answering all 48,000 emails waiting in your inbox.
So, make the return as easy on yourself as possible.
The Ultimate “Packing” List for Re-entry
Here are a few ideas to make your re-entry smooth and seamless.
Obviously, you don’t have to do everything on this list. These are simply options. Choose the ones that feel helpful—and don’t forget to give yourself enough time to actually do them. Whatever you do, don’t save your checklist for the night before you leave.
Change your sheets before you go. There are few greater feelings than returning to your own bed. Level up that experience by making sure it’s clean and comfortable. You might even consider turning down your bed hotel-style. Fold the corner. Fluff the pillow. Place your robe at the foot.
Leave a clean glass or bottle of water by your bed for your return. We appreciate this in a well-appointed hotel. Take a page from your favourite accommodation and do this for yourself.
Set an auto-email reply that gives you a soft buffer. Even one extra day of grace makes a difference.
Make a simple re-entry reminder checklist just for you (unpack, laundry, bath, journal). Keep it light and doable.
Pre-load a comfort show or movie on your laptop or streaming service for your first night home.
Tidy your home or bedroom before you leave. Clear surfaces, fluff the pillows, close the closet door. Create calm.
Put clean towels in the bathroom and swap out the hand towel.
Set aside your favourite pajamas or soft outfit so you don’t have to dig to find comfort.
Create a re-entry playlist called "Soft Landing". Something to play as you unpack, cook, just breathe. (Here’s mine, if you need some inspo.)
Prep a simple dinner to reheat or freeze a favourite meal. A soup. A casserole. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a frozen pizza can work here. Just something so you’re not scrambling for what to eat after weeks away.
Leave a treat tucked away. Your favourite bar of chocolate, a bottle of wine, your best comfort snack.
Restock a few shelf-stable staples. Avoid the empty pantry stress. Just the basics. Pasta, oat milk, coffee. Or schedule a grocery delivery for the day you return.
Clear your fridge, clean your dishes, and take out the trash! There is nothing worse than coming home to a mystery smell or fruit flies.
Leave your sink empty and your kitchen towel fresh. A small but impactful detail.
Put a book by the bed. Not the one you packed. A favourite that you love to return to time and time again.
Let your calendar breathe. Resist the urge to stack obligations the moment you return. In fact, don't schedule anything for the day after. Take off work for just one more day, if you can.
Plan something gentle for your first morning home. A café breakfast, a slow walk, or a lingering hour on the couch with a cup of tea and your post-trip thoughts.
Again, a few small acts go a long way.
If your checklist starts to feel like a chore, reframe. These are small gestures that will make your future self feel cared for. Tiny luxuries you’ll be so glad you handled before walking out the door.
Just like your bag doesn’t pack itself with all the things you’ll need on your trip, that easy-like-Sunday-morning re-entry doesn’t just happen.
It can be a challenge to come home, on many levels.
Pack with care, both in your suitcase and in your home, and you elevate the entire traveling experience.
You have the power to shape the energy of your trip.
And, this part, often overlooked, can turn out to be one of the most meaningful.
No overdoing.
No overthinking.
Just a gentle rhythm to help you travel well—and return well.
If you're planning to pack it up and take an epic getaway soon, I’d love to help you sort out the details. I’m waiving all planning fees for my psychologie subscribers this summer, so now’s a beautiful time to start dreaming. Just fill out my travel inquiry form or send me a DM to get started.
Xx,
Cover art by Alena Ganzhela used under license
Dear reader: earlier this week, I shared a Note here on Substack where so many offered their favourite re-entry tips. I loved reading through them all. What’s your non-negotiable pre-trip ritual?
I think I responded to your note, but I always clean my place and put fresh sheets on the bed before leaving. Nothing better than coming home to clean sheets and the comfort of your own bed!