The Shift Survival Kit: What’s in My Bag for Working Retail
Retail, to me, is the one job industry that is both fun and very trying. If you’re an adult like me, working in a clothing store or any everyday job is just where you so happened to land. For me, this would be my fourth job and I’m surprisingly in love with what’s needed from me. Being able to unload pallets of new merchandise to customer service, the job is one I appreciate especially being able to learn a lot about how a clothing store works.
My work week consists of mainly being part-time, so anywhere from fifteen hours a week to at most twenty-five. Each day depending on what department I’m working in, I have to figure out what I truly need to take to work. For example, if I’m packing orders, I’ll need my water bottle and maybe a snack or two.
My Day to Day Work Life
I talked about my average work day and my overall experience working in a clothing store. I went into much more depth there, but I would definitely recommend it to any adult looking for that work/home balance. It too depends on where you work but I know that where I work, it’s a good balance of being at my job for no more than five hours a day mostly throughout the week. It helps me a lot, especially with how I’m adulting and gives me that much needed time to still get my life together.
My work life has inspired me to do a post I’m pretty sure you’ve all seen by now. I wanted to do a “What’s In My Bag” blog post but make it more like a survival guide if that makes sense? It’s mainly to show what I found very useful to take with me to work while no matter if opening or closing.
Here’s all the things I take with me to work during my work week!
The Bag and Bag Charm
At the moment, I’ve been rotating my two purses that I got about four to five years ago? I got them in two neutral colors and different sizes. They were my first “adult” bag purchases and I was so happy seeing how I saved money for something of quality! It still amazes me how I still have them to this day and there’s no wear or tear.
The keychain came from my spring cup I got myself from Marshall. It was on the cup and I thought to myself how cute that would be to put on my bag. I’ve loved a good charm to put either on my bag or anything because it showcases some personality in my opinion.
I absolutely adore the one I got with my mug and it’s neutral enough for me to build on it or even use it throughout the entire year. Miffy is a character I simply love and plus, I can carry her everywhere!
Essentials Inside the Bag
Phone and Earbuds
First and foremost, there is my phone that already has to come with me everywhere! I’ll need that for communicating with my family, my bible app, and even taking photos. I recently switched to a spring case so that I can feel a part of the season.
Earbuds are too essential for me and I’ve had my galaxy buds 3 for about four years now? They still work, get the job done, and help me pass the time during that long shift. I love wired earbuds, but nowadays wireless makes it easy to pop out the case and throw right into my ear.
What I listen to, it really depends throughout the shift, it’s sometimes my Christian music, kpop, or even bossa nova cafe jazz music. My mood is also another factor to what to play, too, haha! I have this cute, bubbly music that brings a smile to my face. I’ll share my go-to spring playlist and hey, you might like a song or two.
Wallet
This one is pretty self-exclamatory, haha! A wallet is a must when it comes to carrying my ID, debt cards, and physical money. Every adult definitely needs to carry one and it helps keep all your cards together, such as your gift cards, important ones, or photo cards.
Now I know I’m guilty as ever, but I have fallen for the tap to pay using my phone. I have to reteach my brain to pull my wallet out and pay with my debt card. Funny right? Something we were doing way before paying electronically was a thing.
I too want to also get back into the habit of keeping cash on hand with me whenever I go out. The amount of stores I’ve gone to where they don’t accept phone pay is something to get used to. I’ve had to ask my mom if she could help me and I feel bad because I have the money, it’s just on my Google wallet! Backup cash is something I learn is a necessity when carrying your wallet in your bag.
Notebook and Pens
I do take a notebook with me, mainly because one of the departments I work in, there’s a lot of downtime especially near closing. Even though I tend to forget to write in it at work, I have it on hand even if my mom and I need to run somewhere. It might also be that old school bone in me from my mom and grandma but they also carried notebooks for if they needed to write down a bill or a note for next time!
Something that my mom and I are challenging ourselves for this year is to keep a finance mini calendar. I want to eventually grow to be financially independent and I need to stay on top of my bills. Whenever there is an upcoming bill that’s coming or even payday, these are tiny things we overlook and I want to be sure to stay ahead of it!
Body Mist or Perfume
Lately, I’ve been using a body mist from PINK and it’s not just because it smells good but because it’s affordable. I’m about my perfumes and everything, but I still want to smell good even if it costs just $10. I’m almost out of my holiday one but I recently picked up a summer scent that smells pretty good.
Whichever department, I’ll be honest and yes, it’s absolutely normal, I may get a little sweaty. Not that “going to the gym” type of sweat, but the one where it’s lightly there. I definitely need something to still have me smell good after I use the restroom to freshen up once the task at work is complete.
I’m all about scents and love a good signature, even if I’m clocking in at the beginning of my shift. It’s something I simply adore and makes me feel very adult for sure.
Something for my Lips
For some reason, this makes me feel like such a girly girl having many options to use for my lips. With it slightly getting warmer, I’ve been using my lip gloss or lip jelly by NYX. Other days I might be feeling a matte lipstick to switch things up.
My bag is definitely incomplete if I don’t have something I can use to keep my lips moisturized. I don’t know if it’s a second nature habit that’s picked up, but I don’t want to lick my lips haha! I used to do that a lot when I was younger and I had to stop that, even if it was a one-dollar chapstick.
Even though I too may be wearing a mask some days at work, I still feel like this is a personal essential for me and it’s something you’ll definitely find in my bags.
Toiletry Bag
This one is a must have, particularly being a lady and all. My mom loves to watch those old classic cinemas where the woman would be in the bathroom pampering themselves and chatting with other women. My bag would be the modern day version of that except for the chatting of course.
Inside has all my feminine products and disinfectants like a tiny hand sanitizer. I’m able to take this bag with me or if I don’t, take out those important things to use. I like that it helps me keep my cleanliness more organized and in one spot instead of me rustling around for things.
Hand Lotion
Working in retail, boy, the amount of times I’ve looked at my hands and tried to figure out how in the world my hands got so ashy! It’s so embarrassing and yet a badge of honor for me to show how hard I work. I could do the smallest of tasks and my hands are coated in dust. I’m trying to figure out where and how that even happened all the time!
That’s why I found carrying hand lotion as an essential for me. This is something passed down from my mom all the way down to me, of course! My mom bought us some hand cream when we were kids to teach us how to keep our hands moisturized on the go.
From ones I’ve had in the past, it could vary in size. If you found one you couldn’t fit in your pocket, you could still use it whenever you go on your break and moisture your hands that way.
Trust me, you won’t forget this and even when you’re going out with friends or in general, at least you have something with you. Thank me later!
Clock In and Carry on
That is it for my very first “What’s in my Bag” blog post! I’ve always wanted to do one of these now that I’m older and I hope it inspired you. I know every job is going to be different and we are all going to have our little trinkets as well as essentials we carry. Being in retail and seeing how I need certain things to survive the work day, I’m glad I was able to share it.
If you’d like to read and get to know me, the editor and creator of The Lately Edit, be sure to click below and you’ll find my many adventures as I’m growing up. Thank you so much for reading and I’ll be sure to share more with you all soon! Take care!
