Tips From Tonia – June 2023

School is finally out, which means my family & I are getting ready for our summer trip to Hawaii! Planning for this trip has been flat out exhausting, but all of the hours planning & scheduling everything is going to be worth it!! The twins will be seniors next year so I’m soaking up all the time I have left with them before they graduate & leave for college (I can’t even believe my girls are already almost graduating!!! I’m going to be an emotional wreck this next school year for sure!)

I love traveling, but there is one thing I absolutely DREAD – packing!! I’ll admit, I can be a procrastinator when it comes to getting packed for a trip. Don’t get me wrong, I always make sure to get it done early enough to sort through & make sure I have everything I need (not to mention, my children AND my husband as well! #momlife) however, it takes some pep talk to get myself started. I am a strong advocate for my ADHD clients to have a body double to help them stay on task & accountable and do the same for myself when it comes to packing for a trip. Body doubling is extremely helpful! I usually make my husband, one of the kids or another family member sit with me. It’s not that I need their help, I just need a warm body to sit with me as I go through the process.

Including body-doubling, I thought I would share some helpful packing tips for anyone else who may struggle with preparing for a trip, or if they’re like me and just really don’t want to do it (but know it has to be done!).

• Use a jewelry organizer to hold all your jewelry. It will keep jewelry safe & untangled while you travel.
• Organize your suitcase using packing cubes. Packing cubes will keep your clothes compressed and folded flat or neatly rolled, meaning no wrinkles. You also won’t have to rifle through your suitcase looking for a specific outfit & you can move the cubes directly into the drawers of your hotel’s dresser! Bonus tip: using different colored cubes for different items will help you to easily identify what item you are unpacking.
• Pack backwards – this is SO helpful! When packing I place any outfits I plan to wear at the end of my trip, on the bottom. That way I don’t have to go rifling through my entire bag & the next outfit I planned to wear will be right on top!
• Make copies of all your important documents. Any passports (for everyone – including my spouse, children & myself), travel itineraries, credit cards & driver’s license. You can never be too prepared! (ESPECIALLY if you are traveling out of the country!!) I also keep everything in a clear bag so I can easily locate them as needed.
• Look at the weather ahead of time. This helps gauge any weather-specific items I may need to bring, like an umbrella, rain jacket (they even make ones to protect your handbags!), etc.
• Keep everything organized in one place, for quick & easy access. I LOVE a good clutch to help hold all of my things. Commute clutches are cute, trendy organizers that allow you to hold your phones, keys, cards, cash – you name it. And they can double as an organizer for your technology. I love it! It fits right into my carry-on bag, making traveling a breeze.

I hope these tips help as you pack for your next vacation! We have extra tips for traveling on our blog, if you need any that are ADHD specific or would just like some extra help in that department. Let me know where you & your family are headed to! I’ll also share some pics on Sorted Out’s social media from the beautiful islands of Hawaii :) Safe travels everyone!