The Post-Trip Hangover, Notriphobia, and Chasing Your Travel Self

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The Post-Trip Hangover, Notriphobia, and Chasing Your Travel Self

Ever find yourself late at night, staring at a video timeline or scrolling through old photos from a past adventure, hit with a strange, hollow ache? In this solo episode of the Winging It Travel Podcast, I dive deep into the psychological weight of returning home from the road.

Tune in as I explore if we aren't actually homesick for a physical location, but are instead mourning our untethered "vacation self" or could it be both? Plus, I tackle notriphobia—the low-grade panic of looking at an empty calendar with no next adventure booked—and share practical ways to bridge the gap between routine daily life and your next big getaway.

I for sure suffer from a trip which could either be a long weekend or six months, going back home is a constant struggle for me and I cannot see that changing in the near future. So I thought I would lay out my ramblings in this episode to see if other travellers feel the same thing. Let me know your thoughts on it too.

Key Topics Covered:The Post-Trip Hangover: I break down the dopamine crash, the physiological shift of "travel fitness," and the shocking transition back to mundane domestic life.Mourning Your Vacation Self: Why we feel lighter and more alive on the road, and the fallacy of trying to recreate past memories or return to the exact same spots.Notriphobia & The Blank Calendar: I define the anxiety of having zero upcoming trips, and look at why re-watching old clips can sometimes feel like self-torture or living backward.Breaking the Loop: How I close the chapter on past travels, smuggle micro-curiosities into my everyday routine, and cure notriphobia without breaking the bank.

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Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Editing drone footage from Finland and the strange, hollow ache of wanting to go back.

01:24 – Podcast Intro: Welcome to the Winging It Travel podcast, part