I know it’s a bit nosy, but I love seeing what people carry in their backpacks, purses, or what’s on their desks. That’s why, once again this year, I’m encouraged to share what I carry in my work bag. And I can tell you that there are quite a few changes from last year.

To give some context, even though I work in an office and follow the tips for having the perfect desk as advised by Patricia, I often end up working elsewhere. Whether it’s because I have to attend some event, or because I’ve escaped to a café to work on things for El Imperdible.

That’s why when deciding what to carry in my work bag, I stick to the essentials and avoid redundancy. This way, I avoid back pain or reluctance to carry it.

From Backpack to Shoulder Bag

Why did you buy a shoulder bag if last year’s backpack was so cool?, you might be wondering. Besides being a little treat, the truth is that lately, I tend to carry much fewer things (no camera kit, no Switch for example) and the backpack just became too big.

In fact, what I showed last year that I carried in my backpack doesn’t represent my daily routine anymore but what I usually pack when I go on a weekend trip or have to make a work excursion. Though, it’s not bad having extra space to fit a bike helmet or one of the many layers of clothing when the infamous mid-season arrives.

That said, I must say that the Fjällräven Greenland shoulder bag (120€) I’ve purchased is quite adorable. My shoulder bag is the 13” model, though there’s also a 15” version, and it’s big enough to fit quite a bit without being a cumbersome burden to carry around all day.

As for the interior, it has the best of both worlds. On one hand, there’s the main compartment of 9 liters, where there’s plenty of space for a book, the Switch, a thermos with coffee, or the hat and glove kit that all of us from Vitoria carry in winter. On the other, there’s the padded compartment for the computer or the pencil case pocket where you can keep your notebooks and planners well organized.

Additionally, the Fjällräven Greenland shoulder bag includes a couple of very useful extras: a hidden pocket perfect for storing a wallet or keys, and an extra strap that works like a belt to keep the shoulder bag from moving around, for example, when you’re biking.

The shoulder bag is very nice, but I know many of you are wondering what exactly I carry inside. Let’s take a look…

What’s in My Work Bag? I Mean, in My Shoulder Bag…

As I mentioned at the beginning, despite following Patricia’s advice for having the perfect desk, one way or another I end up working in all sorts of places that are not my desk. Hence, my bag is filled with a few essential work tools:

• Hobonichi. It’s the planner I chose this year and I couldn’t be happier with it. Perfect as a work diary.
• Notebooks. The ‘journalist’ notebook from Field Notes is where I sketch out articles and projects. The leather notebook, which goes everywhere with me, is where I jot down everything.
• Pen Retro 51 Mars Edition and a Caran d’Ache 849 (19€) as a pen. Completely in love with both.
• iPad Pro 11” with the Smart Keyboard Folio. More on why later.

The list of what I carry in my work bag wouldn’t be complete without all those accessories that should come standard because they make the day-to-day so much more bearable:

• AirPods. Sometimes I wish I had one of those over-ear noise-cancelling headphones that isolate you from everything and sound so good but then I see how small and comfortable the AirPods are and I get over it.
• Wallet for paying for coffees.
• Swiss Army Knife. A daily essential. Somehow you have to open those Amazon packages, right?
• Microfiber Cloth. I hate fingerprints.
• Snacks and lip balm.
• Business cards.

I don’t know if it’s much or if it’s little, but it’s what I carry nowadays.

Why an iPad Pro and Not a Laptop?

I’m not going to go item by item explaining why I chose this and not something else, but in the case of the iPad Pro, I’ll make an exception. As mentioned in The Bulletin #71, for me the iPad Pro is as professional a work tool as any laptop. I might even say it’s better.

On one hand, there’s the form factor, few laptops can boast of being as light, powerful, and having as much battery life to the point of forgetting the charger at home. This is essential if you have to spend the day out and about.

And I might be the only one who uses it, but having such a decent camera is incredibly useful when you need to tweet an event live. The keyboard isn’t bad either, in fact, I’d say it’s one of the best I’ve used.

But the most important thing isn’t the features, but how comfortable I feel working on the iPad Pro. As Marie Kondo would say, it “sparks joy”. Instead of hindering my ideas, it rolls out a red carpet for them.

In fact, it’s one of the gadgets where I come up with the most ideas after my notebooks and pens. Maybe because I get distracted less than on a huge monitor, although there are many times when that extra space is a lifesaver.

And you, what do you carry in your bag?