I’m an anxious person, and this used to spell disaster for me when I was away from home.
Until I was about 26, I was dealing with my mental health in ways that didn’t help—toughing it out, reading self-help books, blaming my job for the stress I was under, and wishing that I could just “get it together”. Continue reading If You’re an Anxious Traveller, Slow Travel Might Be the Answer
I’m introverted by nature, and although I love travelling, sometimes being in a new place can feel like a “heavy lift” mentally. All of the things taken for granted in my regular life—that I’ll know what all the street signs say, how to order a coffee, and what way to look before I step into the street—all go out the window. It can be challenging to question things you take for granted. Continue reading Free Peaceful Places to Rest While Travelling (That Aren’t Cafés)
Trying to see everything when you travel can leave you exhausted. Here’s why I now plan just one activity per day—and how slowing down makes travel more meaningful. Continue reading Why I Don’t Try to See Everything When I Travel (And Why You Don’t Have To Either)
I love slow travel; mindful trips, where I get to ask myself, “What would make me happiest?” and use the answer to fuel days of exploration of a new place. But there are some vacations where I want to do absolutely no cultural discovery; where the point isn’t to go out and see things, but to recharge by bowing out of activities altogether. Enter: the … Continue reading “Fly and Flop” Trips: How to Plan a Truly Relaxing Holiday
Sometimes I think I’m becoming addicted to my phone. This gadget is my camera, my bank, my list-maker, my television, my music-sharing device, my gateway into my friend’s lives (via social media), and my communicator for my loved ones. So it’s understandable that there’s a draw to it—but I worry that I’ve started going full days without being able to put it down. This becomes … Continue reading How to Disconnect From Your Phone While Travelling (4 Simple Analog Tools)
We have a friend staying with us this week, who took advantage of a last-minute deal to fly to London. We’re psyched he’s here; a last-minute trip is such a thrilling way to shake up life a bit! Having said that, our friend mentioned he wished he’d had more time to research London before travelling. He was making lists of things to see from the … Continue reading How To Research & Plan A Last-Minute Slow Trip
Sometimes you don’t need a big trip to re-energize—you just need a few quiet days. Life lately has been feeling chaotic, and the impulse to get on a plane and forget about everything for a short-term trip is very tempting. When I imagine it, it feels simple. But I know that’s just because I’ve become too used to city breaks that they feel easy to … Continue reading What to Pack for a Slow City Break (and Why Less Is Better)
This week marks over 13 years of living in London. It was an adjustment, certainly—although I’ve written about how hard it was for me emotionally, some of the hardest culture shock moments actually happened gradually, as I was living in London as a Canadian. Culture shock in London can sneak up on you; there many things I never thought were unusual in my hometown of … Continue reading Culture Shock in London: 23 Things That Surprised Me After 13 Years
This week, I’m celebrating 13 years of living in London—what started as a post-university trip to get an internship became a full-time job, and although I’ve travelled a lot, London is the place I’ve called home for over a decade. I’m not a big history buff; it was never my favourite subject in school, and I can’t say that it’s something I go out-of-my-way to … Continue reading 3 Ways London’s History Shapes How the City Feels Today
The further we get into 2026, the more I’m convinced that this is the year of taking in-person hangouts seriously. After the pandemic-era lockdowns lifted, it felt like there was this boom of going out, coupled with anxiety surrounding a new, new normal. People now had different expectations about hugging, sharing spaces with strangers, and coming into work with the sniffles. In-person jobs started to … Continue reading How to Start a Dinner Club To Beat Loneliness & Explore Your City
No Small Wander 