An Ode to Backpacks

A backpack is so much more than a carrier of things — it serves as the roadmap of our day. Almost every object should serve a purpose for the hours ahead; almost no item is guaranteed a spot. Even keys—our access to returning home—might be left behind when traveling or when someone else will be opening the door upon your arrival.

A wallet may seem essential, yet the prevalence of Apple Pay makes it possible to go a full day without reaching for our cards. Of course, it is also possible to walk to a library, sit in the park, or attend a fitness class or workspace where the day sees no exchange of money or services. Arguably, the phone is the only essential, yet I doubt your phone goes in your backpack—finding its home instead in your pocket or, more likely, affixed to your hand.

It’s too easy to mindlessly pack a backpack with what we could need on any given day, without regard to the day’s specifics, individual needs, and uniqueness from the day before. Will you need your laptop, or will an iPad suffice? Will you have time to read your Kindle or a physical book? Will the weather change, requiring an additional layer to either take off or put on? Will the duration of your time out with your backpack require any hygiene backup, such as eyeliner, deodorant, or sunscreen? Will hunger pangs require immediate sustenance in the form of snacks, sandwiches, or Saltines (the Saltines for alliteration and promotion, since their status is relegated to a cracker for when you’re unwell, even though they are delicious when feeling well)? Will your footwear need changing, with a dressy alternative to sneakers or a supportive pair for speed?

These questions aren’t posed to overcomplicate packing your backpack. Quite the opposite. Our propensity to add items to our bags without first considering what to subtract means we physically weigh ourselves down with things we don’t need for the hours ahead. Instead, by starting with an empty backpack, each item can be carefully placed inside, knowing it serves a purpose today. Having backups and alternatives can provide flexibility and ease when you need to pivot if the day does not go as planned. But too many options might make it difficult to access what we truly need.

Start the day with a clean slate, and respect the uniqueness of what lies ahead.