The bag used for the days in and out of uni typically become a void and chasm for used tissues and loose paracetamol, but what are the essentials needed to help power through a harsh day of lectures and tutorials? Of course, you have your laptop and charger, but what else should you have rattling around at the bottom of your bag to make the days just that little bit easier…?
Living in Edinburgh, especially during winter, gloves are an essential to have permanently stored in your bag. Whether it’s a quick walk to grab a snack from the shop, or simply doing a quick loop of the Meadows to prevent yourself from going crazy during an intense library session, gloves can provide some much-needed warmth ensuring that you don’t lose complete feeling in your hands. It is so practical to keep your hands warm so that when returning to the library it does not take a ridiculous amount of time to get back to work whilst waiting for the blood to return to the tips of your fingers so you can type or hold a pen.
Alternatively, you could easily avoid the need to buy a snack whilst at uni by carrying around food. The variety of transportable snacks is endless but carrying round an apple is always a good idea. It’s a healthy snack, it’s rather filling and there is something about eating an apple that makes it significantly easier to romanticise your life and embody your main character persona whilst chomping. Although, there are plenty of other snack options available, from chocolate to nuts, to a tupperware of leftover pesto pasta. Whatever your food of choice is, be sure to include some in your uni bag as it’s a great way to save both money and time.
An assortment of “health products” can always come in handy too! This might include a fresh packet of tissues, plasters, paracetamol, ibuprofen etc. These things can be truly life changing in a variety of situations. For example, if you’ve spilled a coffee and need to mop it up, or get a paper cut, or are suffering from a particularly gruelling hangover. The last thing anyone wants is to be caught short in a situation where they are forced to buy any of these necessary items when they most likely already own them but have left them at home. Additionally, if you have these things with you when someone else doesn’t, it can be your good deed for the day to help out someone in need, which can also boost your own mood by helping others!
Ultimately, what you carry around in your uni bag can be the difference between a good day and a bad day, as, if you have all the essentials with you, you can be prepared for any situation!
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash