Things in My Bag That Prove I'm Trying to Adult | #BenchPaylaBlog

Work x Gym bag | Adidas 4ATHLTS Small Duffle Bag

In my early 30s, living in the north as a corporate slave, I'm learning to take life one coffee at a time. My days are a mix of work, post-shift gym sessions, visits to quirky coffee shops, weekend runs during my "running era," and debating whether to learn how to cook Pasta Puttanesca or keep pretending I can't. I don't have kids, unless you count my beloved cats back in CDO, whom I miss dearly almost every day. 

If there's one thing I'm certain about, it's what I pack in my bag. These are my essentials—non-negotiables for a thirtysomething human just trying to navigate workdays, gym sesh, and the occasional coffee shop run without losing his sanity. My bag is less an accessory and more of a survival kit.

Now, let's keep this blog conversational and explore with me as we unzip this and discover what keeps me going.

Thinking about upgrading this year? Bench, think twice! :P

What always comes out first? My mobile phone. That should come as no surprise. It now serves as my brain's external hard drive and isn't simply for calls or texts. My Spotify DJ, my alarm clock, which I snooze three times before actually waking up, my calendar, my grocery list, my emergency flashlight when I drop stuff under the bed, and weird messages in my Notes like "buy eggs for post-workout meal", "Call Mama and ask her how to properly iron my pants" -- are all examples of mine. 

I wouldn't know what day it is or where I'm meant to be without it. I would go back to my apartment and start over if I left without my phone, either inside my bag or inside my pocket.

My 6-year-old Hickok Billfold Leather Wallet

Then I have my wallet. IDs, ATM cards, a bit of cash that vanish more quickly than I'd like (because let’s be real, everything’s digital now, but jeepneys and karinderias don’t take digital payments all the time), and some old receipts that I keep forgetting to discard—nothing special, just the standard suspects. 

I carry this adulting emblem with me, and I'm reminded every time I open it, "Hey, Bench, you still have so many bills to pay."

Keys featuring #DBStheBest

My apartment keys are in one of the smaller pockets. These tiny metal parts may not seem like much, yet they determine whether I may sleep in some random hallway in BGC or on my bed. I can't risk losing them, so I constantly check for them by patting my bag, my pocket, and then my bag again. 

Plus, it would be a nightmare — mostly because I’d have to bug my sleeping Tita once I am outside the gate.

Noah by Sunnies Studios

20-20 vision no more. I now use eyeglasses since I can't see beyond ten feet without them. Sometimes it's eyeglasses, sometimes sunglasses. Depends on the day. I wear eyeglasses to avoid mistaking a stranger for a friend, and sunglasses because the world is blinding me to the core. Plus, they serve as a shield when I don't want people to know I'm quietly people-watching. 

Laguna X Triton by Sunnies Studios with personalized pouches

These are not just my accessories; they’re my survival gear.

ROHTO Cool 40α Eye Drops | Pasalubong from Kate!

Then there's my secret weapon: eyedrops. Hours spent looking at screens (mobile phone, laptop, PC) can make me look as if I haven't slept in weeks. After a few drops, I look less like a zombie and more like a man in control of his life. 

Eye drops are my little bottle of salvation, to be honest.

My almost 4-year-old AirPods

My AirPods? My life. When I go to the gym or commute, these small things help me stay sane. While silence is wonderful, there are moments when I need to block out the world with music, podcasts (I highly recommend Stephanie Soo's Spotify podcast channel | Rotten Mango), or simply white noise or my current favorite Sleep Spotify playlist: Rain Sounds. Thank me later. 

My daily escape route is my AirPods. Why? because they also spare me from having to engage in awkward small talk with strangers when I'm clearly not feeling it.

Hope to do a fist-bump with you at AF!

Speaking of the gym, I also keep my gym key fob inside. It's little, yet powerful. To be honest, carrying it can seem like an accomplishment—even if I don't go to the gym that day. It's a daily reminder that I'm at least thinking about my health. That counts for something, right?

This little piece of plastic is my ticket to staying (somewhat) fit. Carrying it reminds me I should go to the gym even when my brain says, “Bro, Netflix instead?”

Glow Authority Ultra Brightening Melt-in Sunscreen

In my 30s, I've come to realize that skincare is a form of self-care. Sunscreen comes next. I had assumed that this was only for the beach, but I've learned better. Sunscreen is a must if I don't want to look like a dried mango when I'm 40 years old. 

Each time I put it on, the future me gives the current me a silent high five.

Personalized Sunnies Flask

My reliable water tumbler is tucked away in the side pocket. Even though I occasionally forget to drink from it, I still like knowing it’s there, silently judging me. Though it gives me a sense of health, and I feel proud to be a member of that "Hydrated and Thriving" club, because I carry it. 

Hydration is key, they say. And I try to believe it.

Know the leather LTH/03 by Zara | A birthday gift from Jai!

The fact is that half the fight is won when you smell good.  Last but not least is my perfume. I'm ready to take on the world after just one fast spritz. Smelling good doesn’t just make you more approachable, but it also boosts your self-esteem. Even if you don't have your life together, why not give off the impression that you do? You never know who you could run into, and hey, first impressions matter.

Perfume is my go-to accessory whether I'm running errands, meeting friends, hitting the gym, or going to work.

So yeah, that's my bag, then. Not really glitzy, yet everything within contributes to my daily existence. The tools that keep me moving, appear reasonably put together, and smell respectable enough for society are all part of my little survival kit. 

Work x Gym bag | Adidas 4ATHLTS Small Duffle Bag

I don't require much at this age. I just carry a bag that helps me function as a man in my 30s who tries to have fun and live a responsible life. Thus, if you ever see me clutching my bag as if it held the secret to my life, it probably does.

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next one!

-BENCH