What's in your purse / bag / backpack? Here's what's in mine!

Here's a list of what I keep in my bags, and how I keep them organized.

Before packing my bags, I think of all of my senses-- as well as how to manage my sensory needs.

  • Vision
  • Smell
  • Taste
  • Touch
  • Hearing

Vision Management:

  • Sunglasses (Battlevision Wraparound Sunglasses). Out of all the sunglasses I've tried so far, these work the best for me! 
  • Sleep Mask (Manta Pro Sleep Mask). This sleep mask is 100% blackout, which helps with visual overstimulation a lot!

Smell:

  • Essential Oil Roll On
  • Face Mask (I usually put the essential oil inside of the mask, which helps with bad smells)

Taste:

  • Flavored Toothpicks, peppermint and cinnamon flavored.(Flavor Forest) 
  • Gum (Eclipse Polar Ice)

Touch:

  • My collection of fidget toys.
  • Playstation Vita Game Console (I downloaded GBA games on it!)
  • My dragon, Obsidian. (Jellycat Little Onyx Dragon). She's my best friend and i refuse to go anywhere without her! I even made her a little collar with her name on it.

Hearing:

  • iPod Nano 3g: Used for audiobooks
  • iPod Touch 7g: Used for apps, comfort movies, and music. (3 full length movies are available!)
  • Airpod Pros 2 (Noise cancelling <3 )
  • 2 Pairs of wired earbuds
  • Loop Earplugs
  • Eargasm Slide Earplugs
  • Ear Defenders

Miscellaneous Items:

  • Planner
  • Journal (No lines, which helps me also use this as a sketchbook!)
  • Sudoku Puzzle Booklet
  • Pencil Case with pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.
  • Colored Pencils
  • Whatever book I'm currently reading (Right now, its a book about my hometown and it's history).
  • My Tablet
  • My Communication Cards my friend made for me!
  • Nail care kit (helps me stop biting my nails)

On the outside of my bag:

  • Jellycat Ricky Rain Frog keychain (who I named "Eddie", after my friend!)
  • Hand Sanitizer in an astronaut holder
  • 2 Pikachu keychains, A kipling monkey keychain, and a rocket keychain.

Tools:

  • Flashlight
  • Scissors
  • Multitool

Medical:

  • Thermometer and Probe Covers
  • Pulse Oximeter
  • Alcohol Prep Pads
  • Welly Bandages and Antibiotic Ointment
  • The Medicines I take
  • Instant Ice Pack
  • Hot Hands (for sensory purposes, and my Pulse Ox doesn't read accurately if my hands are very cold).
  • Applesauce pouches (I cannot swallow pills)
  • Lots of salt packets
  • Electrolyte Drink Mix
  • Icy Hot Roll on and/or Tiger Balm (Tiger Balm works better for me, but the smell is overwhelming.)
  • Tiny Trash Bags and Ginger Candy (Nausea)

Water Bottle Bag:

  • Owala Water Bottle (The only water bottle i've used that I don't spill on myself by accident. and it's sensory-friendly for me!)
  • LMNT Electrolyte Drink Packets, unflavored.
  • Strawberry-Watermelon Drink Mix <3
  • Snacks, usually Goldfish or a granola bar of some kind. 
  • ANOTHER Hand sanitizer, this one in a balloon-dinosaur holder!

More Details about my bag(s):

  • My main bag is a full-sized bag that can carry all of the above items (excluding the water bottle bag, because I ALWAYS carry that separately). On days where I have more pain and/or less energy, I carry my smaller bag with only my essentials in it. (The items in the larger font are the things I always have on me!)
  • My main bag is also an Ita Bag! It has pins relating to my interests and medical conditions on the front!

Fun Fact:

When full, my main bag is about 14 pounds! I weighed it the last time i went to my doctor. (My doctor overheard me say the weight of my bag and went "Oh my god!")

  • It varies depending on where I am going. e.g. I don't need to take a video camera or a computer with me to Tesco.

    But the items which seem to stay in there consistently (recently) are some sheets of blank paper, a pen, a bit of spare change, a takeaway menu, a glasses case, and some white balance cards.

  • I love being prepared like this, it means I would enjoy seeing family without the stress of unpredictable foods I might not like.

    It's interesting how you joke you are laid back, although you plan lots of your meals, because I actually think by planning, you can relax so much more in unfamiliar situations! I think a little bit of structure does actually make me more relaxed!

  • I don't go far without tissues and an inhaler I rarely need, a host of tablets (antihistamines, paracetamol, caffeine, ltheanine) and a decongestant spray. But I try my best not to use these things unless absolutely unavoidable.

    I always have a variety of cables along with my laptop and headset. Headphones, water bottle, coffee/tea travel mug in my work bag. Along with some first aid (plasters and bandage) and a pair set of laces (a pair broke at work years ago so carried this since)

    Pretty much every bag or coat I own (I have loads) has doggy bags in at least one pocket.

    A lady at work carries antibacterial wipes, which I'm going to do too once I remember to buy some small packs (to wipe down desks, keyboard etc.as our work desks are shared/hotels)

    My phone goes everywhere with me and most times my Garmin watch too, it's useful mainly to set timers so I don't miss stuff, burn food etc. due to the "ADHD tendencies".

    And lastly,  now I'm old ...I have some varifocal glasses, which I need mainly for distance vision/driving but need to admit defeat and use more generally.

  • Love it! My bags keep getting larger, and I’ve a growing collection of pouches. I’m on my largest yet, but plan to get a larger one so I’ve room for anything I might pick up through the day. I carry:

    • laptop
    • keyboard
    • iPad
    • chargers
    • 2 notebooks
    • pencil case
    • wallet
    • coin pouch
    • Mini screwdriver set
    • pouch with meds
    • pouch with things I need next to me at work
    • pouch with computer related items, cables, a multitool, Swiss Army knife, usb sticks and hard drives
    • blocked nose spray, heat cream, lip balm
    • and my lunch!

    It’s almost perfect for me, but I need something slightly larger! The pouches are absolutely essential because they let me organise within the bag and keep everything compartmentalised. 

  • Here’s a peek into my bag. It’s usually a mix of essentials and random stuff that ends up there. I always have my wallet and some chapstick because I can’t live without it. A pack of gum, my keys, and my phone are also a must. You never know when you’ll need a charger, so I also keep one of those on hand.

  • This post was my favourite new post of the day. I don't know why, but it really appealed to me.

    I am the opposite. I hate the sensation of carrying things, and limit myself to as little as possible.

    I say I'm the opposite, but then I do have a going away 'kit' that I use for overnight stays at family. But that will be in the car, so I don't need to carry.

    • Eyedrops (glaucoma)
    • Tooth guard (I grind my teeth - badly - cracked a molar in two (next to a long-term gap) and half tipped to one side once on holiday, and was in agony for a week.
    • Tooth picks (flavoured, so *snap!*)
    • Flask of lactose-free milk (enough for two coffees, and two bowls of cereal)
    • Oatibix Flakes / Mesa Sunrise mix - for breakfast
    • Rice Krispie / Corn Flake mix - for supper
    • 1 Pear (breakfast)
    • Two slices of spelt bread (in case we stay for lunch)
    • Flask of lactose-free yogurt with frozen blueberries and strawberries) (in case we stay for lunch)
    • Packet of lightly salt and vinegar crisps (in case we stay for lunch)
    • Apple (in case we stay for lunch)
    • Orange and golden kiwi fruit (for after tea/dinner)
    • I DON'T PACK ANYTHING FOR TEA/DINNER because I'm easy-going, relaxed and laid back like that JoyLaughingJoy
    • Lactase tablets / Bean Assist tablets - digestive enzymes in case tea/dinner may not agree with me
    • RECENT ADDITION: Stim toy - the bike chain one that FH recommended.
    • Water bottle with marks on the side, so I remember to drink water.
  • I leave the house with an empty backpack, because I prefer to use that to hold whatever I'm going out to buy.

  • I carry a phone, debit card and car key with a trolley token clipped to the fob.

  • Purse, tissues, epipen, knife, spare coins, till reciepts, poo bags and all sorts of crud I don't need

  • Preparedness is not to godliness.