"Let's pack for a trip"
ADHDer: *Dies inside*
Okay, so packing sucks. As ADHDers, we can find it so stressful sometimes that it feels like we need a holiday just from packing! 😅 So Eric is back, and this time he's built an AI packing prompt for ADHD. It's FREE to copy and use for yourself. All part of what we do here at Future ADHD - make useful stuff for ADHD adults.
Copy this AI prompt and get your packing list for your next trip 💛
Here’s why packing can be so tricky for ADHDers:
Executive dysfunction, duh.
We struggle with planning, organising, and following through on tasks. Packing requires all of these things—deciding what to bring, collecting everything in a way that makes sense, and then actually putting it all together. So yeah, we struggle. Especially if we're short on time.
Analysis paralysis
Too many decisions! "What outfits do I need?" "Will I need spare shoes?" "What if the weather changes?"
We get stuck on every little question so then packing takes forrrrrrever, or we just procrastinate or get distracted ("hey, maybe I do need that dress from 2015. I should try that on right now")
Time blindness
ADHDers often have a distorted sense of time, so we miscalculate that we either have plenty of time to pack and leave it until the last minute, or we’ll think packing will take hours, and avoid starting at all. Spoiler for the noobs: both lead to last-minute panic-packing. 😅
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Packing is boring
Packing is repetitive and kinda boring. And because we thrive on stimulation and novelty, boring tasks are a huge challenge. It’s hard to stay focused on something so tedious without getting distracted or wandering off mid-packing to, I don’t know, randomly start pairing all the odd socks. 😆
FOMSO (Fear of Missing Something Out)
The anxiety over forgetting something adds to the whole stress of the process. Anyone else end up throwing everything in your carry on and then stuffing it into your suitcase while waiting in line at the airport..? No? Just me?
Overpacking or Underpacking
We can struggle to visualise what we need, then end up overcompensating by packing way too much. Or we go the other extreme and just assume “Meh, I’ll figure it out when I get there,” and underpack. Either way, it can cause stress during the trip.