Are you the type who likes to leave home with light pockets, or do you prefer a seemingly bottomless bag of tricks? We’re all different, but one thing is for sure, it’s good to be prepared! Life hits us with unexpected problems all the time, from running out of petrol to the sudden onset of a cold, but there are a few basic everyday carry items to cushion the blow when we get caught off guard.

How to decide what everyday carry items you need

The list is probably endless when you consider the things you “could” need every time you go out. Ask new parents and they’ll tell you it’s everything, including the kitchen sink! While you may run into trouble that requires a first aid kit or a length of rope, it’s not practical to lug those things around every day.

When deciding what every day carry items you really need, it’s worth asking yourself whether the items match these three key criteria:

1. Are you likely to use them every day?

2. Are they compact?

3. Can you use them more than once?

Things you only need rarely, bulky items, and those that can only be used once don’t make good candidates for your essential everyday items.

7 everyday carry items you’ll be glad you packed

For the prepared among us, let’s look at how you can maximise essentials while minimising space.

1. Mobile phone

You know the feeling when you leave home without your mobile phone. We have become completely reliant on our mobile devices for just about everything, from finding our way to an address to paying for things at the supermarket. As well as containing your calendar, texts and emails, your phone could save your life in an emergency. A phone with no battery is no good to you, so it’s smart to also pack a charger (either a wall charger or a portable charger) to keep you going when the battery gets low.

2. Tissues

Spilt coffee, runny noses, a cut finger — are there no limits to what the humble tissue can clean up? Colds and flu are set to return with a vengeance this winter¹, and being stuck on a bus or in the office with a runny nose is not ideal. It’s always wise to leave home armed with a mini pack of tissues for wherever the day may take you.

3. VIRALEZE™

A cold or flu is the fastest way to ruin your plans. Experts predict² that this winter will be particularly bad for cold and flu cases due to lower immunity levels following lockdowns. 

Imagine if you had a secret weapon to help trap and block cold viruses before they set in. VIRALEZE™ is an innovative new nasal spray that provides a protective moisture barrier in the nose where cold and respiratory viruses first attach and start to multiply³. Make VIRALEZE™ an essential everyday carry item to add a layer of protection to your winter defences.

4. Hand sanitiser

Since the pandemic swept across the globe, hand sanitiser has become another everyday carry essential you shouldn’t leave home without. Whether it’s for your kids after touching the trolley at the supermarket or for your own hands after filling up your car with petrol, a bottle of sanitiser is a lifesaver when you don’t have access to soap and water.

5. Lip balm

Dry, flaky, sore lips are a common problem in winter but a completely unavoidable one. A small lip balm stick is a compact but useful everyday carry item to keep your lips soothed and protected, whatever the weather. Dermatologists recommend⁴ lip balms with soothing ingredients like shea butter, castor oil and vitamin E.

6. A bottle of water

We often forget to drink enough water in winter because we’re not as thirsty as in summer, but it’s important to avoid dehydration any time of year. Keeping an insulated stainless steel drink bottle in your bag is an easy way to ensure you have fresh, cool water.

7. Plasters

They’re tiny but very handy. It always pays to carry a couple of plasters in your bag or wallet. If you have kids, bumps and bruises are common, but adults can cut and scrape themselves too. A plaster will help keep blood off your clothes and cover the cut easily, so you can get on with your day.

Carry light but smart

You can deal with most of what life throws at you day-to-day with a few simple items. Don’t let a cold or flu get the better of you this winter. Pack a bottle of VIRALEZE™ nasal spray to help trap respiratory viruses before they take hold.