Hey there!

Happy Momentum Monday (on a Sunday)! 🥳

Since I’m flying home (to the States) this week, I thought it would be a good time to dive into how to navigate holiday travel with ADHD. And while this is part of my “Surviving the Holidays” series, these tips can apply to travel any time of the year!

Whether you’re headed home for the holidays or planning a getaway, the overwhelm of packing, planning, and surviving the chaos can be a lot. But don’t worry—I’ve got your back with tips to keep your ADHD brain in check and your trip as smooth as possible.

Let’s keep the theme of momentum over motivation alive—small actions now can save you from full-blown stress later.

Why Planning for Travel Works for ADHD Brains:

Prevents Last-Minute Panic: ADHD thrives on urgency, but that’s not the vibe we want while running through an airport looking for gate D25. A little prep work can keep things a lot more chill.
Reduces Decision Fatigue: Travel days = an endless parade of choices. Packing thoughtfully and setting up systems ahead of time reduces mental overload.
Keeps Surprises Manageable: Chaos is inevitable, but with some ADHD-friendly strategies, you can roll with the punches without feeling completely derailed.

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ADHD Travel Hacks

1. Pack the “Ish” Way

You don’t need to overthink it. Use a packing checklist (either digital or scribbled in a notebook). Prioritize the essentials: ID/passport, medications, chargers, comfy clothes, and a snack stash.

Pro Tip: Pack your bag-ish, leaving space for those last-minute “Oh, I’ll definitely need this random thing!” moments.

2. Create a Travel Plan-ish

Have a loose plan with the big rocks in place: your itinerary, transportation details, and timing. I like to work backwards here and give myself that buffer time I know my timeblind self will need. So instead of taking the train to get me to the airport right on time, I’ve started taking the early train to reduce some of the panic when I only have a 6 minute connection. This has taken me agggeeess to lean into and my brain will STILL try to talk me onto the later train, so I have to really make sure I stick to the plan on this one. Also, make sure to write or type it out your timeline/plan so it’s not rattling around in your head like a rogue suitcase.

Example:
Flight is at 12, which means I need to be at airport by 9:30 and the train takes at least 3 hours. So my brain says I can catch the 6:30 train, but I know I am going to have a much smoother, less anxious trip if I take the 5:30 train to make sure I’ve covered my 🍑 in case I miss a connection (which almost always happens with the unreliable German train situation, but I digress).
Morning: Wake up, coffee, and double-check bags.
Travel: I need snacks, entertainment ready (headphones and kindle charged), ticket handy.
Evening: Arrive, settle, and give yourself grace to decompress.

3. Pack ADHD-Friendly Distractions

Pack a “go bag” or your carry on/personal item with things to keep your brain occupied: fidget toys, podcasts, downloaded Netflix shows, or a good book. And don’t forget to charge your headphones!

4. Embrace the Power of Micro Tasks

Break down pre-travel stress into teeny, bite-sized actions.

Lay out your travel clothes the night before.
Pack one category at a time (clothes, toiletries, gadgets).
Do a “mental rehearsal” of your travel day to catch anything you might’ve forgotten. (I know this step can induce some eye rolls and its easy to skip over, but do it! It really is super hea

This Week’s (or before your next trip) Action Step:

Before your trip, spend 10-15 minutes doing the following:

Brain dump what you need to pack or do. (I love doing this in the Reminders app because you can braindump and then move the items around in categories).
If you’re packing for others, have a seperate list for them as well. (If you have to pack for your kids, great, but your partner can pack for themselves! Take that off your plate when possible).
Check your essential items (ID, wallet, tickets, meds).
Pack one small thing today, even if it’s just chargers or snacks. Momentum starts small!

Holiday travel/travel in general may not be stress-free, but it doesn’t have to be chaos either. Taking small, intentional steps ahead of time can make all the difference. You’ve got this!

I’d love to hear from you—what’s one travel hack you swear by? Hit reply and let me know! And if you’re ready to dive deeper into how to manage your ADHD, book a free call with me or feel free to grab a ticket to one of my FREE monthly workshops. Let’s build systems that work for your brain, not against it.

Catch you next week with more momentum,
Leah 🌶