Sling bags have one strap and are worn slung over one shoulder. Putting all of the weight on one shoulder could be problematic for your neck and back. Backpacks have the advantage of two straps, which disperses the weight evenly. If carrying your books is not an option for you, you can purchase a luggage bag, or a rolling briefcase or backpack. This will keep the strain off your back and body.
The strap of a sling bag should run diagonally across your chest to keep the bag securely in place, and disperse some of the weight to your back and hip. Adjust the straps of a backpack to the right length. You will know they are correct when the backpack has the most contact with your back. Be sure the handle of a rolling bag is long or short enough to not cause you to twist as you pull the bag.
If you carry a water bottle, look for a bag with a pocket on the side where you can slip your water bottle in and out regularly. Since you are using this bag for school, you will need a space for pens and pencils. May bags have a pocket with slots stitched in specifically for the purpose of holding these items. If your school allows you to carry a phone, look for a bag which has a pocket dedicated to your phone. Many backpacks have a pouch at the top of the bag. Other bags may have a side pocket for easy access and protection for your phone.
Choose a bag with a separate section for storing your electronics, and only place electronics in this section. Some bags have an elastic sling in the electronics section. This can be a good shock absorber if your bag gets dropped. Air bladders are available in the electronics sections of some bags for extra protection.
A little padding goes a long way for protecting your electronics from bumps, drops and dust. Place your computer or tablet inside a sleeve before placing it in your bag. Consider getting a hard cover for your electronics. Hard covers can keep the screen from cracking under the pressure of your text books.
If you know you will not need your text book on a particular day, because you have a test or are watching a movie that day, leave that book at home. Carry only one pen, one pencil, and possibly one spare. Leave forms of entertainment at home. This includes gaming devices, novels and toys.
If you bring items other than books and notebooks, these are good things to find another home for during the day. There may be a locker in the gym for workout clothes. You could leave your lunch in a classroom near the cafeteria. Keep your items organized and be respectful of your teacher’s space. Choose a classroom which is convenient to stopping in between classes if you need something in the middle of the day.
Oftentimes, ebooks are much cheaper than print copies!
Some examples of good, light-weight computers are the MacBook Air, Dell Latitude XPS 13, and Asus ZenBook UX305. Consider using an iPad or tablet instead of a computer. Covers for tablets are available with built-in keyboards.
Try a binder with specific sections for each class. You can control how much paper is in each section and have only slightly more paper than you need for taking notes each day. Try starting one subject at the front of a notebook and another subject in the back until you meet in the middle. Keep everything in a notebook, folder or binder. Loose paper can get lost in your bag or crushed under other items creating cluster or frustrating disorganization.
Tear old pages out of your notebooks if you no longer need those notes. Clean out your bag at the end of each week, and do a mass cleaning at the end each term when you should be able to remove a lot of finished work.
Use a bag with multiple compartments. Assign items to each compartment. Keep your pens and pencils in one place, your books in another, your notebooks in another, and so on. [6] X Research source The largest compartments should be used for the largest items in your bag, which is likely your textbooks, then the next largest would fit your notebooks. Place the items you will be accessing most often in the outside pockets. This could include things like pens, pencils, your wallet, and lip balm.
Just like you placed the largest items in the largest pockets, you will want to follow this plan within each compartment. Place the largest items in the back and fill the compartment largest to smallest. It will be easier to see everything in that section and be able to identify each item at first glance. Consider ordering the items in each section in the same order you have classes. Your first class will be the first in the section and your second class items will be in the second position. If you are carrying multiple binders, which are thicker on the inside and thinner at the ends, you can alternate the direction of the binders within your bag. Put one in with the thick side on the left, then flip the next to have the thick side on the right. This should square off the two binders and help save space.
