Throughout my college years, I have learned what are some basic necessities for every student. Today I will share with you all my top essentials for college! The items I will talk about are ones that I use on a daily basis and that I fit in my book bag.
1. Water bottle
We always hear "drink water, it's good for you" and it really is! Carrying a water bottle is great to have to keep you hydrated after walking around campus and after eating. Drinking water is so beneficial to your body. I keep some type of water bottle on the side of my book bag whether it is a plastic bottle that I can refill or my Camelbak. Most campuses have water fountains or places that you can refill water so this helps from using numerous plastic bottles and just tossing them to the side. I prefer insulated water bottles because I like to drink cold water. Having an insulated water bottle helps to keep your ice from melting quickly and also keeps your water cold throughout the day. Here are some of my favorite water bottles:
I cannot stress how important sunglasses are! I carry my sunglasses with me every day on campus because I am constantly being sucker punched in the eyes by the sun (
ouch). Whether the sun hurts your eyes or not, sunglasses are important to wear so you can keep your eyes protected. There are so many cute styles to choose from. Places like TJ Maxx, Forever 21, and Sunglass Hut are some good places to find sunglasses. I usually wear my Ray Ban aviators.
4. Hand Sanitizer
I am only
slightly a germaphobe when it comes to public places. In college, you are constantly touching rails, doors, chairs, tables, etc. I love carrying around hand sanitizer in my bookbag or on my keychain so that I can easily squirt a little drop in my hand, obnoxiously fill up the classroom with a Bath and Body Works scent (whoops), and have clean feeling hands.
5. Planner
OH MY GOSH... get you a planner! I know a lot of girls use planners because we just like to plan out things and see things visually, especially for those who are like me. I like to have a visual representation of something so I can see how my day is going to be and what I need to get done. Google Calendar is another great planner to use because it is online and you can use it both on your phone and computer. The great thing is everything syncs between devices! Google Calendar is a great backup to have if you ever forget your planner or just don't feel like getting it out of your bookbag. I am currently using the Happy Planner by Create 365. I purchased mine from Michael's and I have been loving it so far!
6. Headphones
Headphones are a great thing to carry around in college. Headphones are a lifesaver when you are trying to kill time in between classes and want to catch up on your Netflix show, watch some Youtube makeup tutorials, or do some online work that you don't want to blast for everyone else to hear. I like to listen to music on the campus shuttle that takes me around campus and when I am walking to class. On those occasions when I take a trip to the library, I can listen to some calming music while I focus on my work. If you like to workout then headphones are a must to get you pumped while listening to music.
7. Charger
I can't even count on two hands on how many times I have fallen asleep at night and forgot to charge my phone. Your alarm goes off at 8:45, your battery percentage reads 20%, and your class starts at 9:15. Yup, it happens. I always try and stick my charger down in my bookbag to avoid my battery from dying while I am on campus. I use my phone to get in contact with people, check my emails, and to keep up with the bus shuttles on campus so having a phone with no battery would not be good AT ALL.
8. Mini Wallet
If you are anything like me, you carry around a big wallet to fit
cash all your receipts and cards as if they're souvenirs. During the semester I sometimes switch out my "big" wallet for a smaller one that is less bulky in my book bag and carries what I really need on campus. These are the type of the wallets I like to use when I am on campus:
9. Rain Gear
Rain gear is so important to have for college because you do so much walking outside. I highly recommend purchasing rain boots, a rain jacket, and an umbrella to help keep you dry on those rainy days. I use a Totes mini umbrella that I purchased from Walmart. It is great because it's small enough to fit in the little bottle pouch on the side of my book bag. It also came with a sleeve to go over the umbrella so this is great if it has rained and you don't want your umbrella dripping everywhere. Along with my umbrella, I like to wear my North Face rain jacket that I got from Dick's Sporting Goods. I also love to wear my UGG rain boots that I got from Belk last year because they keep my feet nice and dry. I don't have to worry about jumping over puddles or getting my shoes and feet soaked.
What are some of your favorite essential items to carry around for college?
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