From Chaos to Carry-On: How I Learned to Pack Smarter

It’s day two of the Ultimate Blog Challenge and I’m writing this from Zurich Airport at 7 a.m. Yesterday was definitely on my list of less favorite days, packing.

While we travel often, packing still makes my brain spin. I watch my husband get ready for his work trips with total ease. He makes a list of each day, checks the weather, plans his workouts, and lines up outfits that fit his schedule perfectly. Then he packs, neatly and efficiently, with maybe one extra outfit as backup. Rarely more. I’m convinced it must be his army training that makes him so precise in this department.

For my ADHD brain, it has always been a very different story. For years, I packed based on what I felt like I might want to wear. That meant I usually ended up with too much, or worse, the wrong things. Pieces that did not really go together and left me frustrated with “misfit” outfits. Over time I learned that sticking to a color palette helps me avoid the chaos. These days I lean toward whites, beiges, and browns so I can mix and match easily, then dress things up with accessories. If that is not your color theme, you can borrow what my friend does with greys, white, and black, or create your own. The point is to keep it simple so your suitcase works with you, not against you.

Eventually, I realized I needed to create my own SOP (standard operating procedure) for packing. Now, I sit down and think through each day from morning to evening, including weather and activities. Then I lay out my outfits and take pictures of them. That way I have a visual guide on my phone, so I do not have to rely on memory or mood when I am getting dressed on the go. Anything that makes life easier and simpler gives me a much better chance of staying on track.

This system has been a lifesaver. I still do not enjoy packing, but I have found a flow that works for me. And honestly, that is what so much of life is about. We may never love every task, but if we can create systems that simplify, reduce decision fatigue, and make our lives easier, we can show up with more energy for the things that really matter.

For me, packing is just one example of how my ADHD brain needs structure to avoid overwhelm. Without it, I spin in circles. With it, I can travel lighter, stress less, and focus more on enjoying the trip. It is the same approach I use in my coaching business and with my clients: simplify, streamline, and set yourself up to win.

So let me ask you: What is one area in your life where you have created a system or shortcut to make things easier? I would love to hear your version of a “packing SOP.”

Here’s to finding flow, even in the tasks we do not love.