A closer look
Psychological studies suggest that humans overpack for vacations because they suffer from an irrational fear of unexpected scenarios requiring highly specific outfits. You will pack three different pairs of formal shoes for a four-day beach trip, genuinely believing that you might suddenly be invited to a black-tie gala by a wealthy local aristocrat. You will also pack workout gear despite not having gone to the gym in six months, assuming that the sea breeze will magically transform you into an Olympic athlete. In the end, you will just wear the same comfortable pair of shorts and a wrinkled t-shirt every single day, while lugging around a fifty-pound suitcase filled with the broken dreams of the sophisticated person you pretended you would be
