Is it just me, or is the last week of a trip always the best one?
Suddenly, you want to do EVERYTHING, and you’ll figure out how to fit it all in.
Well, I’m in that week right now.
After 10 months and 13 countries on the road, we’re finally flying home to Singapore!
And I’m currently in Los Angeles trying to figure out how to squeeze our entire life into 3 suitcases (it’s barely going to fit. The airport this morning should be fun…)
So this week we’ve been doing ALL the things.
Spending hours zooming around the city in Waymos (LA’s driverless taxis) to try and visit everything.
Coffee and shopping in West Hollywood, the Warner Bros Studios, the Grammy Museum (the Daft Punk Helmets!!), hiking in the Hollywood hills.
Stuffing ourselves at the Whole Foods hot food bar.
Going for 1 last run along Venice and Santa Monica beach.
And also earlier today, a little tear, followed by a little boogie to Mexican music. Obviously.
Knowing something is about to end makes you pay SO much more attention to it.
There’s actually some psychology behind this.
In a study of university students, those who were encouraged to think of graduation as coming soon ended up doing more college-related activities and reported feeling happier over the following 2 weeks.
Same campus, same amount of time left.
Me in LA, basically.
But in normal life, we often save the good stuff for when things “calm down”.
Spoiler: they NEVER calm down.
And then it’s suddenly the end of October and you’re wondering WTF happened to the year.
There are only about 10 weeks left of 2026.
That’s 10 more Sunday mornings. 10 more Friday nights. And at least 1 friend you’ve been texting “we HAVE to catch up!!” since about February.
And no, this is NOT another challenge. You already know how I feel about those.
I just want you to steal a tiny bit of that last-week-of-the-holiday feeling, because it’s honestly the best one.
⚡️ This week’s tiny experiment: Holiday Mode
Pretend it’s the last week of a holiday in your own city:
Open your notes app and write down 3 things you’d want to cram in before it’s over. Small is perfect.
Pick 1 and book it now, with date/time/venue. Coffee at your favourite café totally counts, and so does finally having dinner with that “we HAVE to catch up!!” friend.
When you’re there, remember to actually be there. You can post the pic after ;)
Mine this week were easy: coffee + shopping in West Hollywood and 1 last long run on the beach.
Loved it? Do it again next week. Didn’t love it? Fine, at least you got a nice coffee out of it.
As for me, I’m taking Holiday Mode home to Singapore, because I’d quite like to enjoy living there WITHOUT having to leave the country for 10 months first.
And conveniently, our apartment is still rented out, so we’re moving into hotels (3 suitcases and all) and keeping the adventure going in our own city.
I’m SO curious, what’s on your list? Hit reply or leave a comment, I read every one!
Pray for our zips.
With love,
Noemie x
I’m SO curious, what’s on your list?
Key Sources
Jaime L Kurtz, ‘Looking to the Future to Appreciate the Present: The Benefits of Perceived Temporal Scarcity’ (2008) 19(12) Psychological Science 1238 <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02231.x>.
Noemie Mooney is an ACE Certified Health Coach, ICF-trained Behaviour Change Specialist, certified yoga instructor, and creator of the MAKE SPACE Method™. Trained in design thinking at the Stanford d.school, she writes Unwritten Potential, a newsletter about evidence-based wellbeing, sustainable habits, mental wellbeing, and health behaviour change for smart, health-curious people who want to feel their best without making it a full-time job.