ADHD Travel Hacks
When I was in high school I had the privilege of traveling for 6 weeks on a teen tour across the West Coast of the U.S. and the Canadian Rockies. During that summer I lived out of a suitcase as we traveled from campsites to college campuses to hotels exploring different national parks, museums, popular sites and so much more. It was one of the best summers of my life (minus spraining my ankle but that’s a story for another time). I learned so much about myself and learned so many new skills that have become even more valuable as I got older. With all that travel came a lot of responsibility. It was up to me to keep my things together in an organized way for me to quickly find what I needed and not leave anything behind. I developed the best travel hacks, and packing techniques that can be so helpful for adults with ADHD and/or Learning Disabilities. So as you embark on your travel this summer let me tell you about some of my favorite items I cannot travel without.
Something that can be a challenge for adults with LD and ADHD is having to remember all of the little details of everything you need to bring. This Packing list has been really helpful to get me started. I make my piles and count everything out and add it to this list. When I’m done with the list and everything is in my bag I leave this in my carry-on so that when I get to my destination and I have to repack I know what items I brought and I never leave it behind.
Over the last few years, I have really become a huge fan of Packing Cubes. I’ve used these on short and long trips and it has helped me keep everything neat and orderly when I get to my destination and makes it so easy to unpack. You just unzip the cubes and you are ready to go. Given the different sizes, I’ve used them based on categories like day and night or kept shorts and pants in one and shirts in another.
With that said I’ve found that a lot of modern hotels don’t really have drawers but they do have hanging space. I don’t really get that trend but I digress. But I discovered these Travel Shelves which have been amazing for that scenario. They come in different sizes as well and you can pack for several days, they get fairly compact and then you hang it up once you get there.
As great as I am at rolling and folding all my items and keeping them organized there are always some wrinkles in my clothes. That’s why I never really go anywhere without my travel steamer.
When I go on a trip I like to travel with a bag for the “just in case” situation. Maybe you got to the airport and your bag weighs too much or they want you to gate check, or you run a quick errand and need a grocery bag, or you need a bag for the pool or the beach or let’s be honest the real reason is you might have just bought a few things you want to take home. This collapsable bag is something I always throw in my carry-on bag because it folds up really small, it’s light but is so versatile to use just in case.
Hope you have some great travels this summer
