Hi there! Thanks for joining Jenn and me for the Tuesday Topics linkup! This week’s topic is “What’s in your running kit?” but well… I’m famous for going off-topic. When I started to write, I thought about the things that are in my LIFE kit, as in, the things I bring with me every day and consider essential to my well-being. First up, my planner:
Honestly, it’s not truly essential to my day, but I like to have it with me. I don’t need my planner for work- my day is scheduled out for me already. I divide each day, and put any non-work appointments and my daughter’s things on one side, and details about my workouts on the other.
This week my daughter has a lot, but I have no appointments of my own! I love that- sometimes I feel like I spend Wednesdays (my day off) running annoying errands or going to the eye doctor, dentist, etc.
Moving on… I also always have a couple notebooks with me.
The Fall Planner is…. let’s say, aspirational. I filled out some of it last month but have neglected it ever since. It does have my “Fall TBR” in it, so I refer to that occasionally. The other notebook is just for jotting down random things like blog post ideas or quotes I want to remember. Next up…my phone.
I know what you’re thinking- “Duh! Everyone carries their phone with them during the day!” But specifically, I need my phone for this…
My podcasts! I listen to them while driving, running, working out at the gym… in short, any downtime where it’s not possible to read. Currently Reading is the podcast I’m loving the most right now (and I’m binging the back episodes) but I also have many others…
And lastly, I can’t leave home without a book!
I mean… what if my car breaks down and I have to wait for roadside assistance? What if I client doesn’t show up? What if I’m picking up my daughter and have to wait for her (oh wait- there’s no “what if” there- that will definitely be happening). I always have my current book ready to pull out. If I’m getting towards the end of my book, I’ll have another one just in case:
What’s in your “life kit?”
Welcome to the new Tuesday Topics, hosted by Jenn at Runs With Pugs and Jenny at Runners Fly! Once a week, we come together to share random topics about running, fitness, and life! Use the weekly prompt or write on your own topic!
Top photo by mostafa mahmoudi on Unsplash
16 Responses
The planner and notebooks sound like the perfect mix of practical and creative. And yes, a book is absolutely essential – I have my Kindle with me if I know there will be downtime and also have my diary with me and catch up on missed entries.
Also, I had to laugh at your rule about only recording workouts once they’ve happened – that’s the kind of accountability I can get behind!
I’m wondering if I should switch things up- maybe pencil workouts into my planner beforehand, and then write them in pen once they’re completed? Right now I just kind of plan it all out in my head. Seems like I could have a better system there…
I do love your idea of always having a book with you. Too often I get stuck waiting with nothing but my phone to mindlessly scroll through…
Oh yes, I remember those days of always waiting for my kids to come out of the school after sports practices. Rarely were they waiting for me. 😉
HA! I’m almost always waiting for my daughter- but if she has to wait two minutes for me I’ll get ten angry texts from her… sigh.
I tend to travel minimally these days. I keep my wallet and keys permanently in my fanny pack and one little pocket has a lip balm. I’ll put my phone into another pocket and BAM – I’m out the door!
If I know I’ll be waiting somewhere, I definitely take a bigger bag, toss in my fanny pack, and add a book and water bottle.
A book is essential! I get really annoyed if I have to wait and don’t have a book… but as long as I have one, I don’t mind waiting at all.
I leave my planner at work but I do like knowing what I have planned for the week. I always have my phone with me too of course but I definitely got some podcast inspiration from you — currently I only listen to the Your Diet Sucks podcast which is great but I need more running-adjacent options and it looks like you have several I need to add to my list!
Ha, I’ve listened to Your Diet Sucks… I should check that one out again. Yes, She Runs Ultras is a good one and so is Sally McRae’s of course. Everyday Ultra is… a lot. Joe talks a mile a minute and sometimes he’s a bit much (I think he once had a seven hour race recap) but he gives great information and he truly wants to help people.
I remember the “always have a book with you” era so well! My fallback is the NYT games app, so that I am never without a crossword puzzle.
Oh, that is a GREAT fallback, since it’s unlikely you’ll be without your phone!
I love your life kit. I used to always have a book with me, to the point that I had to start leaving said book at home. Because I am notorious for losing interest in what’s going on around me and heading off to read.
I started carrying one of the Lululemon crossbody belt bags and literally nothing fits in it anymore. On the one hand, yay for lightweight! On the other, it would be nice to tote more things.
Those Lululemon bags are nice. On the downside to my life kit- my bag can be kind of heavy!
I love your Life Kit! All the essentials! My life kit definitely includes a book and my phone (which has a bunch of audibooks downloaded on it). It also includes my sunglasses, because I get squinty with the tiniest bit of sunlight, a tube of vaseline for my lips, hand sanitizer, and some hand lotion.
Yes, I suppose I should have mentioned sunglasses! Living in South Florida, I never go without my sunglasses even if it’s raining (because it will probably be sunny again in 5 minutes.) I guess I forgot to include them because leaving without my sunglasses would be almost like leaving without my shirt- it just doesn’t happen.
My phone!!!
I put everything on my calendar. including the addresses so I can click and drive.
It also has coupons, links to my credit card and all cards from different stores I go to.
Sunglasses, wallet, extra pair of contacts, credit card.
A book but I have recently joined the digital world and bought a kindle.
Right now my life kit includes drops for my eyes because my eyes are so dry my contact lenses tear easily. I also always have a stash of GF snacks. I grab my iPad whenever I think theee might be down time to get something done and a book. It’s been freaky hot for the fall but temps dropped yesterday so looks like I will start grabbing a coat or sweatshirt when I go places.