Some of the best break spots are state and national parks., where you can get out of the car, stretch your legs and move in the fresh air to get yourself revitalized for the next leg of the trip.
Courtesy of Jo Davis
I recently set off to visit a friend who lived an hour south of me and one state away. (Yes, this is like Part II of Safety Rules for Dating and Travel.) Like every other seasoned road-tripper, I have a ritual that I go through to ensure that my trips are safe and successful. Unlike the majority of travelers, my routine includes some seemingly odd practices designed just for folks who happen to be neurodivergent. As such, there are a few things that I do to accommodate the ADHD riding shotgun in my life.
Map out your route and break spots
One of the most important parts of my trip takes place sometimes days or even weeks before I leave. I get on my maps app, and I plot my route. Along the way, I make note of safe, clean travel center franchises, state-run visitors’ centers, parks and other spaces that would make for decent spots at which to rest en route. My ADHD is the impulsive and inattentive type, which means that I do not have the attention span to do the same task for hours and hours at a time, making these rest stops an important part of my pre-trip planning.
Jo Davis often does a little exploring. She found this sign outside of a rest stop in Kansas on a different day trip with her ADHD. Courtesy of Jo Davis
Most people can gas up the car and drive all three hours without stopping without a problem. For me, this isn’t the case. I need to have spaces along my route just in case my brain needs a break from driving. This means bathroom facilities, a place where I can grab a bite and some nice scenery to give me something to focus on other than the road ahead.
Expect delays
I always try to add an hour to my estimated time on the road because when going to a new place, I will most likely get lost. Once my brain has been “on” for hours, it becomes easily disoriented. Figuring out where I’m going on the map and how that translates to the streets can be tricky and cause confusion — a symptom referred to as brain fog. This is especially true when the GPS app is stuck because of a lost signal.
To combat this, I take breaks to reorient myself. Then, I consult the maps. I always download them and sometimes will print them out so it’s an experience that’s as user-friendly as possible. It’s old school, but once you get stuck in the Indiana boonies with no cell signal, you always take double precautions. Giving myself more time also helps alleviate stress, which can exacerbate disorientation.
Make sure you hydrate and eat well
Water is an important resource for neurodivergent folks because we tend to forget to hydrate until our bodies are beyond thirsty. We also tend to skip meals, sometimes forgetting to eat altogether. During my trips, I can’t do either of these things because I need food and water to fuel my body as I drive. The nutrients also work to keep my mind sharp and focused. So, I keep a water bottle in the cup holder where I can see it and remind myself to drink.
“Out of sight, out of mind” is real with ADHD brains. It’s a symptom that’s often mistaken for object permanence. However, I know the snacks are still there, even if I can’t see them in the seat next to me. If needed, I sometimes set timers on my phone to remind me to stop and have a meal.
Listen to your body
The quickest way to tire me out is to ignore my body’s signs. My brain, when disinterested in the task at hand, will wander. I’ve noticed that as I have grown older, it shuts down, and I get sleepy. This is because my nervous system must be engaged constantly. When disengaged, it shuts down, which presents a hazard when driving if I don’t listen to my body and take breaks when needed. A yawn, blinking to focus and having a tough time concentrating on the road are signs that my body and brain need to take a break to do something else. Sometimes, on longer trips, I might need a nap! For the three-hour trip, however, a break at one of the spots I researched is all I need.
Before I go, I check my supplies and my playlists (hours of car karaoke pass much of the time), and then I check the car when I gas up. My ADHD is a constant companion and goes everywhere with me. After years of trying to fight it, I’ve learned that the best, most successful and relaxing trips are when I treat my ADHD like another person along for the ride.
Jonita Davis (jonitadavis.com) is a film critic, writer, and pop culture junkie behind the online publication The Black C.A.P.E. Magazine (theblackcape.com, @theblackcapemag). She is also a freelance writer, a published author, an English professor, and a podcaster. She has a master’s degree in English (Literary Criticism Concentration) from Purdue University and teaches writing at Waubonsee Community College. Her previous works include Michigan City’s Marinas (History Press 2009), Michigan City’s Washington Park (History Press 2011), Questioning Cultural Appropriation (Enslow Publishing 2019), and We Gon Be Black Today (Chicago Review Press, 2023).
This story was created by Detour, a journalism brand focused on the best stories in Black travel, in partnership with McClatchy’s The Charlotte Observer and Miami Herald. Detour’s approach to travel and storytelling seeks to tell previously under-reported or ignored narratives by shifting away from the customary routes framed in Eurocentrism. The detour team is made up of an A-list of award-winning journalists, writers, historians, photographers, illustrators and filmmakers.
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 9:00 AM.
