What to Keep in Your Backpack
WONDERING WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR BACKPACK? HAVE THESE ESSENTIALS ON HAND TO ENSURE YOU’RE READY FOR ANYTHING THE DAY BRINGS.
Whether you’re on campus, embarking on mini adventures around your neighborhood, or just running your everyday errands, there are some items that you’ll always want to have on hand when you go out and about this winter. As the temperatures drop, use this checklist of what to keep in your backpack consistently, so you can travel around easily knowing you’ll be prepared for anything.
WATER BOTTLE
Dehydration is a risk even when it’s cold outside. Plus, sipping water throughout the day helps your body stay healthy and your mind keep focused. So fill up your water bottle and slip it in the side compartment of your backpack.
TECH PACK
On a long, busy day, the last thing you want is for your phone to die on you or to have forgotten your thumb drive or laptop power cord. Tuck a portable charger, cords, earbuds, and anything else into the handy Dopp Kit and keep it handy in your backpack so you’ll never worry about low battery power again.
SUNSCREEN
It might sound crazy for winter when the sun is so low, but wearing sunscreen is important all year round to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Plus many sunscreens also block out other environmental stressors like pollution and blue light which can also damage the skin over time. Keep a travel-sized sunscreen in your pack to top off throughout the day. Your skin will thank you.
TISSUES
Dropping temperatures means noses get runnier, but you don’t have to get caught sniffling. Tuck a small pack of tissues in your backpack, ideally in a front pocket or pouch so they don’t get lost at the bottom of your bag.
HAND SANITIZER
With cold and flu season in full swing, you’ll want to continue the hand sanitizer habit, especially when you’re out in public. Slip a travel-sized bottle of sanitizer into the mesh water bottle pocket of your backpack, or get a bottle that attaches to a keychain for easy access and convenience.
LIP BALM
Cold weather can also make for super chapped lips (the worst!), so you’ll want to store a tube of lip balm in your backpack. They’re easy to lose, so if you’ve got room, you may even want to tuck a couple extra in a small inner pocket. That way, your lips will be soft and moisturized no matter what. And, if you’re a lip gloss fan, pop a few of those in your kit too if you want to mix up your look during the day.
HAIR ACCESSORIES
If you have long hair, having a few hair ties on hand will be super helpful for those days when you just want to get your hair out of your face. Extra points if you pack a small hair brush, too, so you can neaten up your look throughout the day.
PAIN RELIEF
You never know what could happen that could cause you pain and throw off your plans, whether it’s a minor injury, a headache, or cramps. Carrying a small amount of pain medicine with you just might save the day.
HAND CREAM
After using so much soap and sanitizer, your hands might be a little dry. And that’s not to mention that cold winter air can also leave your skin feeling thirsty. Tuck a travel-sized lotion in one of the smaller, easy-to-reach front compartments of your backpack so you can grab it every time you clean your hands. Pick a scent that reminds you of something happy (a field full of flowers, perhaps?), and it’ll boost your mood whenever you moisturize.
