I’m always wildly curious about what people carry around to make their day easier, or just in case they need something in an emergency or in an unexpected situation.
So, today, I thought I’d share a few things I have in my bag and you might find interesting.
Maybe then you’ll share with me what you carry around, and I can get some new ideas.
I’ll skip the basic, obvious stuff: I carry a phone (actually two), and maybe I’ll talk about how they’re set up another time. I usually carry my keys, glasses, sunglasses if it’s bright, that kind of stuff. Cool. I almost always carry a laptop, which has also its specific setup. But what else?
1. A deck of cards
I use cards like other people use fidget spinners. I just do shuffles, double lifts, cuts, more shuffles, and so on while working, waiting for the bus, listening to podcasts or whatever. I find it satisfying. I have a stash of Bycicle basic cards at home, and I make sure I have a deck in decent conditions in my bag.
It’s not about the cards themselves, it’s about having something to do with your hands that doesn’t require your brain.
2. Liquorice roots
Ok, liquorice root is a pleonasm: “liquorice” is greek for “sweet root”, so there you go. But these are actual sticks of wood. Basically, twigs you chew on and taste sweet and nice. It’s a fairly common treat where I’m from, and it reminds me of childhood.
It’s a healthier alternative to stress-eating junk food or chain-drinking coffee. One stick lasts an hour of chewing.
3. Nitrile gloves
They might stay put in my bag for months, but you never know when you’ll need to help someone bleeding, or fish out a mobile phone from a public toilet. They’re cheap and lightweight, and a no brainer for me.
I used these exactly once in five - someone cut their head badly at the office (they picked something from under their desk and stood up, well, under their desk. I was the only person who could help without getting blood everywhere. That one time made carrying them worth it. It’s the same philosophy as a first aid kit: you hope you never need it, but when you do, you’re really glad it’s there. Plus, they weigh nothing and cost almost nothing. The cost-benefit ratio is absurd.
4. A flashlight with a red light option
Red light is useful for not losing night vision, for example while driving (actually, don’t use the flashlight if you’re driving, let your passenger do that for you). White, strong light is great to just see stuff clearly outdoors. I like sturdy, waterproof, cheap ones because I’m super clumsy and I’ll drop stuff all the time.
I know, phones have flashlights, sure. But phone batteries die. And using your phone flashlight drains it fast when you actually need navigation or to call someone. And navigating at night reading maps under red light makes the mood so enjoyably tactical.
5. A notebook, a fountain pen and a rotating pencil**
Ok, I’ll admit I’m a bit of a stationery geek here. I’ve tried a ton of options. Here’s what I settled on so far (and recommend): - Book: the wonderful Dingbats dotted book. Pick any color and animal front you like. Pages have a subtle perforation so you can easily rip one out if you’re on the go and need to leave a note somewhere (yeah, I know, for some that’s blasphemy. I still don’t care.) - Pen: the super fine nib Hongdian H3. I use Waterman deep black ink in it. - Pencil: my absolute favourite is the Uni Kuru Toga mechanical pencil. My best friend gave it to me, and I adore it. The peculiarity of this pencil is that as you write (or rather, whenever you lift up the pencil), the lead rotates a tiny bit, and so it stays always perfectly sharp.
I know, I know - we have phones, tablets, apps for everything. But writing by hand does something digital notes can’t. It’s just more satisfying, and it’s actually easier when you need to draw a diagram or make a more visually structured description of something. The fountain pen is entirely about the feeling of using a more pleasant tool, but it’s not unpractical either. Life’s too short to write with shitty pens.
Plus, I’ve written more useful notes in this physical notebook than in any note-taking app I’ve ever tried. There’s something about the friction of pen on paper that makes ideas stick.
What’s Behind the Stuff
Looking at this list, there’s a pattern: these aren’t just random items. Each one serves a purpose that falls into one of three categories:
Comfort and calmness: Cards and liquorice help me stay centered when things get chaotic. They’re not strictly necessary, but they make life better.
Being helpful: Gloves and flashlight are about being ready to help - myself or others. The cost is tiny, the potential impact is huge.
Intentional craft: The notebook and pen are about choosing quality tools and slowing down enough to think properly. It’s a small rebellion against the digital default.
What you carry says something about how you want to move through the world. I want to be calm, helpful, and intentional. These five things (okay, seven) help me do that.