Minimalism Fail: My Daily Bag
We prefer to keep things clean and simple over here. For us, it makes life in a small space much more manageable. Sometimes we succeed, other times we don’t. My daily bag is a stellar example of a notable minimalism fail.
When not in use, the placement of the bag within our house is nice and practical. It either hooks on to the back of our front door, or it hangs from an s-hook on the exterior of the closet. In both places it’s easy to access throughout the day or when in a hurry, all without taking up any surface or closet space needed for other activities or items.
It’s the stuff inside the bag that’s a bit of a cluster. The blend of running the business, parenting and trying to be less wasteful with single-use items prevent me from keeping the contents to a minimum. But the system works, so I’ve come to embrace it all.
Reusable tissues/cloths, a canvas bulk food baggie, a larger sheet of beeswax paper, a cutlery roll for myself, a combo play mat + cutlery roll for West, a stainless water bottle and adaptable kid’s bottle, and a piece of collapsible tupperware with a lid make up the items that most often help us prevent waste related to food, beverage and packaging while on the go.
I also carry a small smattering of compact toys / activities that can help entertain our 3 year old in a pinch, and can serve as a jumping off point for imaginative play if we’re out for longer than expected. This roll-up play mat (that can also serve as a placemat) with storage for a small truck, a crayon roll (no more pre-packaged restaurant crayons), and a single-piece wooden 3-d puzzle have saved the day several times.
I carry my sunglasses and a brush, as I like to bike most places. And since I almost always work 7 days/week, I carry my iPad and my Nimble for Good portable wireless charger, which was made from recycled plastic bottles and plant-based bio-plastics, and arrived in plastic-free packaging.
On the outside of the bag, I've attached a hat clip that helps when I’m switching between indoors/outdoors, or from my hat to a bike helmet.
The bag itself is the Momo by Olli Ella, which was made by hand with sustainably-sourced materials, and produced ethically. (When I’m going into a more professional environment, I use my Elle by Teddi Joelle.)
Lots of these items can be made from goods you might have already in your home. An old cotton garment beyond repair can be sewn into small squares for reusable cloths. Bedding that’s no longer in use can be redesigned into drawstring bags. And a Stasher bag can keep crayons, little toys, and even utensils from home organized in your bag while on-the-go.
