While the thought of school might make you shed a single tear as you kiss your fun summer goodbye, it’s time to start stocking up on your backpack essentials! I’ve found that over my years in college, you tend to start living out of your backpack, especially when you have your whole day occupied. Your backpack should be equipped for ANYTHING that life throws at you. That being said, here is my list of my backpack essentials that you should always be packin’.
Anyone that goes to school in Ohio knows that this is a no brainer for your backpack essentials. We’ve all had those days where you enter your class with sunny skies only to find it monsooning when you leave! Having an umbrella with you can save yourself from looking like a wet rat.
Places such as Target and Marshalls sell little umbrellas that will protect you from the rain and fit in one of the water bottle holders of your backpack. Do your clothes a favor and invest in an umbrella today!
Let’s face it- we are constantly using our technology. Whether it be checking social media on your iPhone or having to use your computer for your classes, nothing is worse than when your devices run out of battery. This can be especially detrimental if your laptop dies in the middle of class, erasing all your hard work!
Investing in portable chargers for both your phone and your computer can literally save your life. Any technology store (Apple, Best Buy) should sell those for just about every type and model. I even got my phone charger at Joann Fabrics, and it works great! Don’t wait until it’s too late, and start carrying around extra charges.
I HATE dry lips! It’s annoying, uncomfortable and it’s the only thing I can think about when it happens! Always carrying around a tube of chapstick will make your lips feel better and give them a little shine!
Literally any CVS, bookstore, and even gas station will carry some brand of lip balm. From EOS to the traditional Chapstick, make the purchase today.
This one is especially important if you have back-to-back classes during lunch time. When you’re hungry, you get hangry, which doesn’t help when you’re trying to get through your two hour lecture.
Something as simple as a protein bar can go a long way and they are nice because they are already pre-packaged! Some of my other favorite snacks that I carry are almonds, walnuts, pretzels, and even a banana! Do your body a favor and pack delicious yet nutritious snacks!
Every backpack on the face of the Earth has at least one compartment for a water bottle, and it’s made that way for a reason! If you are going to be out and about the whole day, staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. During my freshman year, I got caught up in all that was happening and forgot to consume enough water. I ended up suffering the inevitable side effects of headaches, cramping and tiredness.
Your body literally shuts down when you become dehydrated- going to class can be hard enough, but add dehydration to the list, and you will be miserable. With so many reusable water bottles on the market that keep your beverage nice and cool, there’s no excuse to keeping your body hydrated!
I know this might seem like a given, but every semester I have been in college, I’ve had someone lean over to me and ask me for a pencil. Come on guys, you’re in college! You should always have a writing utensil with you, even if the majority of the work you do in class is on the computer.
Scantron tests are always taken with a pencil, and in some classes with written responses as a part of an exam, the professor will take off points if you don’t use a pen! My advice is to just carry around a little pencil pouch with pens, pencils, Sharpies, highlighters, and anything else you find you need.
Everyone has their own way of keeping track of their busy schedule. I have found that the easiest and most organized way to do so is to write everything out in a planner. I love picking out a new Lilly Pulitzer planner before every school year! Pick a planner that has a calendar with bigger spaces for each day/week. This is important so you can write down homework assignments and important reminders in detail. Keeping everything nice and organized can be the key to success in college, so invest in a planner for the upcoming year!
This is especially important for those of you (myself included) that have seasonal allergies. You never know when the sneeze attacks are going to hit you, so it’s always good to be prepared!
Kleenex sells little portable tissue pouches that are the perfect size for any purse or backpack. You’ll be thanking yourself that you planned ahead when your nose won’t stop running from the winter cold. Along with catching sneezes, tissues can also be a life saver if you suddenly have a make up disaster on your hands and need to fix your lipstick or blush ASAP! You always have tissues around the house, so why wouldn’t you carry them with you?
I carry Advil with me at all times, and although it isn’t used often, I’ll never know when the occasional migraine will hit me. With all the stresses of classes and obligations you have made for the rest of your day, it’s the worst feeling when you have to cancel or reschedule certain things because you don’t feel well. Power through the headaches and pains with Advil in your backpack essentials.
It’s 90 degrees plus humidity. Your class is all the way across campus. You’re sweating up a storm! Especially during the summer and spring months, the heat can take over on your commutes to class and leave your aroma smelling more than unpleasant. Packing an extra stick of deodorant in your bag or even a sample sized body mist will keep you smelling fresh and clean all day! Plus, nobody wants to sit next to the kid with bad BO for the entire lecture. I would check the travel section of any CVS or Target for the mini-sized products that will fit perfectly as some of your backpack essentials.
Equipped with all of these backpack essentials, go out and conquer your busiest of days!
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