Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when travel, transitions and new places are tiring for them?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Treat travel, transitions and new settings as work with planning and recovery costs.

What this can look like

Travel, unfamiliar sites and events add sensory, social and planning demands.

Why it can happen

New locations can bring navigation, sensory, social and timing demands. Share practical details early and make reasonable alternatives available where the role allows.

What might help

Provide practical details early and allow reasonable recovery around high-demand activities.

What the research helps explain

Australian autism guidance and research on masking describe meaningful differences in sensory experience, communication, routines, transitions and recovery. At work, person-led, context-aware options can improve access without requiring a person to disclose or be identified as autistic or AuDHD.

What can vary

People differ widely in communication, sensory needs, recovery and preferred support. Similar experiences can have other explanations. Do not infer identity, ask for private information or make adjustments conditional on disclosure.

For this situation

For you, build arrival time and recovery into event plans rather than scheduling wall-to-wall activity.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.