Conquering the Pre-Holiday Packing Panic: Tips for ADHD Travelers
Packing for a trip can be exciting, but for those with ADHD, it can quickly turn into a stressful hurdle. The decision-making, planning, and organisation required can trigger our executive function challenges. Our time blindess can run amok in these situations too as we struggle to estimate how long packing will actually take. All of this can then lead to overwhelm and impulsive last minute, ‘just in case’ packing.
So how can we as ADHDers navigate the packing process? Here are some tried and tested strategies:
Preparation:
Combat decision fatigue by creating a comprehensive packing list and doing so with a friend, family member or partner. Break your lists into activities, weather, and include essentials, toiletries, and outfits for various activities. Even though our ADHD brains gets a great dopamine kick from the last minute dot com method, packing does not have to be done in one sitting. Give yourself permission to divide it into smaller tasks, like packing for specific days or activities. By researching weather forecasts and laundry facilities at your destination, you have a greater chance of being more practical too.
Packing:
My most recent favourite discovery are the packing pods/cubes, allowing you to categorise your belongings. This is a great way to maintain organisation and creates a handy visual to remind you of what you have already packed. Needless to say each family member has them too. Don’t underestimate the value of role modelling for your children, as packing is a skill that can be learned.
Pack versatile clothing you can mix and match. I have even gone so far as using a smaller bag to limit what I can bring and to avoid overpacking. Include the whole family in the process. Since my children could walk and count they have been assigned the task of preparing their clothes, books and toys. They each get their own list and area to lay things out. Then they can choose where to start and how to go about ticking their boxes. This gives them a great sense of autonomy and builds their self-esteem.
By planning ahead and using these strategies, you can transform packing from a chore into a manageable step towards a fantastic ADHD-friendly holiday!
Happy travels!