Travel Tips for the ADHD Girlies Amongst us: feeling seen & heard

Let's face it. ADHD, although also our beloved superpower, creates a living level of disorganisation, chaos and confusion. At the best of times in everyday daily life, we can laugh it off, or be so used to it that we barely notice we've lost our phone charger for the third time this week.

When you have ADHD, to put it simply, it can be hard to always have what you need when you need it. And it can be hard to do what you need to do, when you need to do it. The impact of this whilst travelling can bring about the usual cost of time, money, patience and dignity, but with a sprinkle of added stress.

What we mean by this, is it can be even more important to have extra support systems in place whilst travelling to help offset some ADHD related difficulties we might face. Of course we can always rely on our trustee creativity and out of the box solutions to get us half way through our problems.

But not having any phone battery is a little more dangerous and scary if you're travelling across country in a bus you've never taken in a place you don't speak the language. Losing your cards can be a smidge more inconvenient when you're staying on a Workaway in the jungle where the postal address can't be reached very easily for your replacement card. When you can't find your cutest outfit because everything you own is mashed up in a pile on the floor, knotted together in your bag that too hard to keep organised in a small space with no natural order.

Thankfully, from experience I have written a list of products that massively take the edge off the already, potentially doomed from the start (I joke!), ADHD-driven tendencies of a young neurospicy woman travelling the world. All the pro tips and warnings written bellow come from direct personal experience.

1. A portable charger or power bank is a lifesaver when you're on the go. Keep your devices charged and ready for any adventure, whether you're navigating with GPS, capturing memories with your camera, or staying connected with loved ones.

   
   

   PRO TIP: WARNING:

   
   

You need to remember to charge the charger

It's best to keep the power bank and the charging cable together. Do not use the cable you use to charge your phone overnight. There will be days where you end up with packing the charging bank but forgot to grab the cable ... a redundant extra weight in your day bag to be avoided. You can thank us later!

2. A large-ish versatile scarf or sarong can be a game-changer in your travel wardrobe. Use it as a scarf to stay warm on chilly evenings, as a beach cover-up after a delicious hot sea-side day, or even as a makeshift picnic blanket or a towel when in desperate need because you didn't choose to waste space in your bag and bring an actual towel for 3 months of backpacking.

   
   

   Maybe you need to dry off after an impromptu skinny dip in the midnight sea, or dry the water you spilt over yourself at lunch because your clumsiness and lack of spatial awareness will bite you at some stage- but ah ha! You are prepared. Choose a lightweight and quick-drying material for easy packing and versatility. You'll always have it with you, tied to the outside of your day bag, backpack, or wearing it as a scarf or sarong skirt.

   
   
   
   

3. Packing cubes: these are a 'try-to-be-less-chaotic' game-changer! Not only do they help you to fit more things in your bag, they help keep your clothes cleaner for longer (less need for washing) and helps you to find your cute outfit with much less difficulty; particularly handy for those days where you need a quick turnaround from a long beach day to a long night out.

   
   

   PRO TIP: WARNING

   
   

   I always say "the systems are only as good as the person who upholds them" as a snarky response to neurotypicals suggesting that buying a planner will magically solve all my life's organisation problems.

   
   

   SO with that wisdom in mind, you need to find creative ways to make sure you find it easier to put the items in each packing cube back in their meant to be home after use. For example:

   
   

   ~ Divide the cubes related to size: the smallest one is pants, medium tops, and largest trousers. Your brain will know the jeans don't really fit into the tiny bag anyway!

   
   

   ~ Associate a colour: match a coloured cube with the items that you most associate with that colour

   
   

   ~ Sharpie in huge letters: BOTTOMS, TOPS etc, on the cubes (write it on all sides!)

   
   

   ~ Divide them via dirty washing: 'freshly washed', 'dirty but wearable', 'needs washing'

   
   

4. A water bottle with a clasp: Staying hydrated is the oldest trick in the book. Yes, it might sound boring. But your beautiful brain and body would say otherwise and will be thanking you later.

   
   

   If you're like me, and conscious of our mother earth and trying to minimise the damage we cause choking her with unnecessary plastic -it's a really wise idea to get yourself a handy, unloose-able water bottle. Otherwise, we find ourselves gravitating towards the plastic throwaways on a daily basis.

   
   

   QUALITIES TO LOOK OUT FOR:

   
   

   ~ A built-in filter is a smart investment for female travellers who like to camp, hike and explore off-track. Stay hydrated wherever you go without having to worry about the quality of the water.

   
   

   ~ Thermos qualities: Also stay hydrated without worrying about sad warm water in the midst of your hella hot day out hiking round the desert.

   
   

   ~ A nice clip, so you can attach it onto your bag so you don't leave it lying around, and have to replace it, for the third time this month.

   
   

   PRO TIP: ALERT YOUR ATTENTION

   
   

   ADHD girlies - make it YOURS. Paint on it with fabric paints. Collect stickers from places you travel and decorate it. Hang friendship bracelets you make for the friends you meet along the way on the bottle, ready to give them out when a connection blossoms.

   
   

   The more emotionally important your water bottle is, the more likely you are to remember to re-attach it to your bag and keep it with you!

   
   

   Get creative and get sustainable to Stay Hydrated!

   
   

We hope you have enjoyed our tips, tricks and ideas! Let us know if you want more hacks for women travellers with ADHD. We wish you safe, happy and free-spirited travels.

You Roam. We Roam. She Roams.

Start your adventure today!