22:43 || 15.4.25 || “Bagged”
10 Things You’ll Find In My Bag
I’ve never understood those people who turn up to work with just themselves. I can just about wrap my head around people who roll with only their laptops. You see me yeah, my bag is more or less my office. I need to be able to set up anywhere, regardless of how spontaneous the situation is. Maybe I’m the one doing the most, but personally, I feel like every one of these things is justified.
The Mac
First things first, the MacBook. Anyone who has a Mac knows a MacBook isn’t just a “laptop”. I copped it in 2019 as my first “big” purchase, and 6 years later, it’s still the heart that gives life to the majority of my ideas. The battery health is on its own vibe, and the screen no longer stands on its own…the hinge is damaged…even after I paid to get it fixed. One thing for certain, though: the keyboard still clicks like it did on day one.
All that aside, this is my baby! She stays with me, and even when she’s not with me, she’s still with me.
My Journals
I’m a pen-to-pad typa lad. As much as I love taking notes on my laptop/phone, I still need to write things down. At the same time, I don’t like mixing my daily journal with my 9-5 stuff, so I had to divert from my one journal-at-a-time rule.
I’ll be real, the work journal, if I’m being fully honest with myself, can be done without. Everything is so much more efficient when stored on the laptop (when it comes to work stuff), but it is what it is. You can’t doodle on Microsoft Word to pass time during meetings. Besides, when you meet up with a client and you’re “taking notes,” you give the impression that you’re doing some sh*t, so why not?
Fast Charger
For the number of people who use their phones throughout the day, not enough people roll with a charger. I use an iPhone 12 Pro, so by 5pm/6pm, my phone needs a recharge. Now, if you’re using a “charger” and not a “fast charger,” you’re playing yourself. What you could do in 15 minutes, you’re sitting around twiddling thumbs for an extra 40 because you didn’t want to make the investment.
For anyone using a later-model iPhone, this probably isn’t a problem for you…yet. But for me, not having a charger on me could be the difference between calling it a day early or staying out and linking up with the guys or getting a few extra bits of work done before I head home after work.
A Book
I have an hour’s commute to work, and a lot of the time, if I’m not trying to catch up on sleep, I’m listening to music and questioning my life choices about how I managed to find myself back in the rat race. 2 Hours a day. 5 Days a week, that’s 10 Hours a week. 40 Hours a month. It would be a shame to let all that time fly by only to spend it gauging what the best method is to get a seat on the Metropolitan Line..
10 pages a day is my usual target. I’m not the fastest reader, so that takes me about 30-40 minutes. If discipline permits me, that’s 300 pages a month. Most books I pick up are between the 250-350 page mark anyway.
Theoretically, it makes sense. Practically…sometimes the sleep is sweeter, but picking a book you’ll enjoy is always a shout. Plus if you don’t get a seat at least you can look “educated” while everyone’s death-scrolling or playing Candy Crush (I’ll be real, the timelessness of that game needs to be studied).
Sketchbook
Being corporate can kill creativity. I keep a mini sketchbook with me, usually for the commute back home. After a long day, sometimes I don’t want to think about anything, so I use this book as a way to switch off. Most of the time, it’s me scribbling shapes on a page. Sometimes, the images form themselves; other times, only God knows what’s going on, but that’s not the point. The point is literally to just free the mind and decongest.
Besides my journal, this sketchbook is my quickest route to staying in tune creatively. It doesn’t require much time or effort, and it’s just enough to help me get out of the abyss of being a recruiter.
Lunch
I’m frugal, you lot that buy lunch every day must be rich af. The way I see it, a £5 meal deal every day comes to £25 a week / £100 a month, not including the snacks and odd Sainsbury’s trips. That’s assuming you even settle for a meal deal. A one-two Wasabi here and a quick Pret there and you’re looking closer to £200+ a month on lunch.
Nahhh g. A quick pesto pasta, rice, and stew, leftover J Rice (shoutout Mumsi), and I’m good. Occasionally, I might treat myself to the odd lunch, but really and truly, slaving 40 hours a week to spend nearly 10% of my earnings on food (during my slaving hours) doesn’t appeal to me. Obviously, there’s all the chat about “convenience” and “no time to cook” but…spending bread on expensive bread all in the name of convenience isn’t my cup of tea. I’d rather skip lunch and have the rice at home.
My Camera
Gotta keep it on me at all times. There have been a couple of times I’ve been caught lacking. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the perfect shot only to find out that you haven’t got your camera with you.
Plus, I just keep it on me as much as possible to minimise the chances of me falling out of touch with what I know brings me happiness. It’s funny, I’ve started recording at work socials. At first, these lot looked at me like “What’s this guy on?” but now it’s become normal.
Fragrances
Leaving the house at 7:30am, at some point in the day, however fresh you were feeling in the morning is going to wear off. I’ve clocked, for me, it’s around 2/3pm. I have a little bottle of oud I keep in my bag. Roll it on my wrist, roll it on my neck, and I’m back to smelling like money. However, I should also start keeping roll-on/deodorant too. All that 24-48 hour protection convo is all BS. Trust me, by 4/5pm a reup is necessary.
Pro-Plus
I’m not really a coffee fan. The taste is dead, and I prefer not to stain my teeth. That said, I have been known to doze of at my desk from time to time. This sh*t’s been going on since primary school days. Anyway, I usually keep caffeine tablets on deck. I say usually. This is the first pack I’ve bought since A-Levels, but to be honest, they’ve made a difference. [Update: 23:20 | 23.7.25 – You’re boy is an avid coffee drinker now. They got me. It’s peak!]
Who knows, maybe it’s a placebo?
Vitamins
As much as I like to think I am “healthy”, I don’t always respect my body as much as I should. To compensate, I keep Vitamin C tablets on me (the ones you add to water that make it look like piss). B12, apparently, that’s also good for energy. I also tried magnesium for a bit, but really and truly how many tablets does one take before it can be considered doing too much?
The toxic masculinity in me already feels bitch-made for taking pills, but ayy health is wealth, it’s hard to make money when you’re dead.
Anyway, that’s 10 things you’ll find in my bag on a normal workday. Are they necessary…is anything necessary?
There’s a bug spreading around the office at the moment. I’ve resorted to buying a 2-litre bottle of water every day to try and cleanse my system, and it made me realise how important it is to drink water. Usually 1 or 2 glasses a day, and I’m good. But now it’s looking like I might have to buy myself a bottle…and pocket tissues.
Wys, what else have I missed?
W~