What's in a Minimalist Man's Commuter Bag | How I Reduced My Belongings to "Just This"

By the way, after replacing my bag several times, I finally settled on this one.

It's lightweight and holds just what I need.
It's one of those items I've reached a point where I can't reduce it any further.

■ Introduction: Just having a heavy bag made me tired before work even started

I used to be, in any case, a company employee with a heavy bag.

• Documents I didn't know when I would use

• Notebooks and pens I put in just in case

• Books I put in thinking "I might read them"

• Spare gadgets (chargers, cables, mobile batteries...)

Since I was just stuffing everything in,
my shoulders always felt heavy during my commute.

I would sigh just climbing the stairs at the station,
and it was exhausting to stand on the train.

Moreover, despite the weight,
when I looked back and asked, "Did I use this today?",
most of the items rarely saw the light of day.

One day, it suddenly occurred to me,

I thought.

From there, I decided to rethink the contents of my commuter bag.

■ The trigger for reducing the contents of my bag

The trigger was
a remark a comedian made on TV.

When I heard that,
I pictured the contents of my own bag,
and felt a little embarrassed.

• Documents left in there for no reason

• Receipts from who knows when

• A business card holder I no longer use

I found myself strangely convinced, thinking, "No wonder my mind feels so cluttered..."

So, just like cleaning up a room, I decided to
try "minimalizing" my bag as well.

■ First step: Keep a log of only the "things I actually used" for one week

I was nervous about cutting everything down all at once, so the first thing I did was
"understand the current situation".

For just one week, I tried keeping a note of
"the things I actually used" inside my commuter bag.

• Company laptop

• Small wallet

• Smartphone

• Employee ID

• Handkerchief and tissues

Conversely, the things I didn't touch even once during that week were:

• A thick planner

• A spare notebook

• Several spare pens

• A book I haven't read

• Cables I don't use

.

The moment I saw this note,

I was certain of it.

■ What's in my commuter bag now

After much trial and error,
the contents of my commuter bag have become quite simple.

• Company-issued PC

• Smartphone

• Small wallet (essential cards + a little cash)

• Card with a lost-item tracker (one inside the wallet)

• Employee ID

• House keys

• Handkerchief and pocket tissues

With this, I rarely have any trouble.

I basically carry documents as data,
and only put the bare minimum into afile when paper is necessary.

Notebook—I only carry one every day.
Even then, after six months or more, I review the contents,
and dispose of pages I no longer need after saving them as photos.

Compared to when I used to carry everything around
just in case of an emergency,
it has become much more streamlined.

■ The biggest change after lightening my bag

When your bag gets lighter,
your body simply feels more comfortable.

• It's harder to get tired even when standing on the commuter train

• My steps feel lighter on the way home

• It doesn't make me think "I've had enough" even after walking a bit

It's a small change, but
since it's a daily occurrence, it adds up to something quite significant.

More than that, what I feel has changed the most is
the "quality of peace of mind" itself.

The peace of mind I had when my bag was stuffed full was,

a type of peace of mind meant to fill a void of anxiety.

My current peace of mind has changed to,

a
peace of mind that comes from having carefully selected what I carry.

This difference is quite significant to me personally.

■ The benefits of commuting with "fewer belongings"

I'll list a few benefits I've felt since making my commuter bag minimal.

1. Almost no forgotten items

Since there are few types of items to pack,

the anxiety of that has decreased.

My checklist is also simple,

that's all.

2. Easier to stop by places on the way home

When your bag is light,

• “Maybe I'll stop by a bookstore”

• “Maybe I'll walk home a bit”

you're more likely to feel this way.

As a result,
I feel like the range of ways I can refresh myself has expanded.

3. You start thinking about 'ways to not carry things'

For example,

• If I receive paper documents, I scan them as soon as I get home and dispose of them

• Consolidate coupons and loyalty cards into apps

• Leave things that are only used at the office at the office

and so on.

I started thinking about 'how to get by without carrying things' rather than 'how to carry them'.
I started thinking about this.

■ To those who want to lighten their bag from now on

If there is anyone who wants to lighten their commute bag from now on,
these are the steps I personally recommend.

1. For one week, make a note of the 'things you actually used'

2. First, try taking things you didn't use even once out of your bag

3. If you're anxious, create a 'home storage box' and let them wait there

4. If you don't feel any inconvenience for a while, let them go or leave them at home

It's okay not to try to reduce everything all at once.

I recommend trying it out little by little,
with that kind of mindset.

■ Conclusion: A lighter bag leads to a lighter heart

After reviewing my commuter bag, I felt that
the amount of stuff you carry is linked to your state of mind.

The more anxious you feel,
the more your luggage tends to increase "just in case."

Conversely, as you gradually organize your life and work style,
the things you need will naturally narrow down.

When your bag gets lighter,
your daily commute becomes a little easier,
and the pre-work blues fade just a little bit.

If you are currently

it might be a good idea to review its contents,
even if just for today.

“It’s minimal, but it contains everything I need.”

Aiming for a commuter bag like that,
I hope to continue organizing it little by little.

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