Living more effortless ADHD travel is a long-time goal for me. My family would tell you that the ‘old Dana’ rushed hysterically at the last minute before a trip. Frantic and overwhelmed; snapping at anyone who got in my way. Packing way too much. The ‘new Dana’ is much nicer to be around. Calmer. More relaxed. Ready on time. These days I even travel with a small backpack suitcase. This is an easier way to live! A more effortless way to travel.
What changed my relationship with travel? One huge step was creating my ADHD travel lists – the ones I shared in last week’s blog – Life Changing ADHD Travel Lists. That’s why I teach a module on traveling and ADHD to the Success Club. I want everyone with ADD/ADHD to live stress-free traveling! From the love notes I’ve gotten from readers about my latest blogs on more effortless ADHD travel I know this topic hits home.
Enjoy this blog from Maya, our embedded ADHD Success Club blogger, about her experiences with ADHD and travel. – Dana
Maya’s ADHD Travel Tale
My ADHD focus on living in the moment isn’t helpful when it comes to traveling with ADHD. I ignore details, live impulsively, and disregard what my future self needs. My future self needs me to get things done, write stuff down, look at my lists, and take action on priorities. I want to be a consistent and productive member of my household. To be a person my husband can count on. And, to kick into gear before my hair is on fire.
When I travel, I procrastinate on packing and everything else. A couple of summers ago, I paid extra for my passport for my Iceland trip because I put off the paperwork. On regular trips, I typically rely on my husband to take care of ALL the details. I just pack my own bag and help my daughter pack hers.
I’m tired of living like this. Frantic and dependent. I’m ready to step up and pull my weight. To be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Ideas for Making Travel Easier
Listening to this week’s ADHD Success Club calls, I heard a lot of what I intuitively know about effortless ADHD travel; yet don’t do. I learned several other tips that could serve me well. To start, I’m asking myself the question, “What can I do ahead of time to make traveling easier for myself and my family?”
Before my next trip, I think the main thing I’ll do is try out Dana’s lists as I plan. Here are Dana’s effortless ADHD travel lists and how each list will help me:
- Initial Planning: This list is chock full of just what I need — details that need to be thought of ahead of time such as scheduling, planning, pet care, and clothing. Without planning ahead of time, my family can be scrambling at the last minute.
- Two Week Count Down: This list is great because this is where I’m really challenged. Thinking about what clothes to take. Do I need to buy anything new. What needs to be washed. Sure, I may wait until the day before I leave to do the laundry, but just thinking about it ahead of time helps. Taking care of those essentials ahead of time makes travel easier. When I’m aware, I can find enough buffer time to get things done two weeks before a trip.
- Last Minute — The Final Countdown: I love this list! It’s full of the last minute things I easily forget to do. From packing earbuds to watering the plants to pulling rotting food from the fridge — this list is amazing.
When trip time comes, I can use these lists as a guide. And, as I work through the lists, I can make them my own and add anything I personally need. When I first listened to Dana and looked at the ADHD travel lists, I felt overwhelmed, but I now see how these lists can be just what I need to avoid overwhelm.
Maya is Test Driving Her Plan
Later this week, I will be visiting my mother to take her to a doctor’s appointment. On a micro-level, I will try to apply this module to that short trip. Dana’s always talking about taking the next small step. This trip is a great way to do that. I’ll make phone calls to family members who have questions for doctors. I’ll check to make sure my toiletries travel bag is fully stocked, and I’m planning to pack the night before I leave. (What a concept! Imaging not cramming things into the suitcase as I’m leaving for the airport!)
Yes, travel and everything else can be overwhelming when I fail to take conscious and advanced actions. When I fail to set the stage for my future self. While living in the now is part of the gift of ADHD, I have to put limits on where I let the now take me. How I let the now control me. Living in the present HAS to include preparing for the future. When I don’t live like that, I compromise the quality of my life. And, my family’s life, too. Small intentional steps forward keep me on my journey to living successfully with ADHD. Thanks, Dana. Maybe a tropical vacation isn’t in my near future; however, organizing myself with focused and deliberate actions is essential.
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