The Essentials
Everyone makes a list when they’re going on holiday, but what about when you’re planning to be away for a little longer?
IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF EVERYTHING
There are many things, physical or otherwise which make us feel good. Without them, we may begin to feel down, or our brains start to overthink.
If we can ensure that the ‘essentials’ are accessible, then we’re halfway there.
Making Lists – until you’re out there, you will not know which items are going to be helpful, and those which undoubtedly will be ‘must-haves’ for YOU.
MUST-HAVES (or not) depending on what you like
Feeling warm and cosy is comforting to most of us. ‘Feel-good’ items which help us to experience ‘homely’ and ‘relaxed’.
CLOTHING
So, if I begin with clothing items which make me feel comfortable first, you’ll see that these are purely items which all of us can relate to.
A warm, furry fleece top, a hoodie, or your favourite jumper, can sometimes lift your spirits.
Warm socks can also take the edge off, whether you’re sitting in your van or if you’re out and about.
A blanket of some sort, Teddy Bear style or Fleece.
I think using your sleeping bag during the day is not a good idea. Day and night begin to become the same thing. Distinct separation between the two, to allow for ‘getting up’ and ‘going to bed’, are important for mental health, even in a small space.
FOOD
Food is so important for both our mental and physical health. Food can warm you up, fill you up and generally cheer you up if you’re feeling a bit lost.
I’m not going to use the word lonely here, as I think loneliness is a different issue.
Food is at the heart of most people’s lives, if they have access to it of course. Some are not so fortunate. There have been times in my life when food has been scarce. Perhaps this is why I’m resourceful. I can usually make a decent meal out of a few tins.
The ability to ‘cook’ food must be mentioned here. It’s alright thinking a few pot noodles will see you through, but those are purely one-off’s, not to be used regularly as we all know they’re not nutritious.
A gas stove will help you to produce some sort of hot meal. This is what we’re looking for to perk us up, something to occupy us in the evening when the options of keeping busy may be more limited.
SOMETHING TO READ
Books may not be your thing, but magazines may be just what you need to settle yourself when the weather is lousy and you don’t feel like going out, or if you need something to occupy yourself for those long evenings.
I love books. It’s probably my age, but I prefer to read from an actual book than to read online. But then my eyesight has improved, believe it or not, since finishing teaching, as I don’t have to read numerous emails and sit at a computer planning exciting lessons anymore, or trawl through endless spreadsheets to find information to enable me to do my job ‘effectively’.
Not to dismiss the wonders of technology, I still read excerpts of books online. Goodreads and similar sites are amazing.
If you’re more of an online reader, you may like to consider a Kindle – a small hand-held electronic device, used for reading books.
LAPTOP/THINKPAD/IDEAPAD/TABLET
I use my Ideapad for all sorts of reasons. I write (obviously) but it also comes in handy when the evening seems long and I just want to watch something familiar. If the internet is good enough I’ll sometimes look for a film. You can always download films in advance for when you’re completely ‘off-grid’ and you have no signal at all.
If you prefer to hand-write, then consider purchasing a diary or journal. Journaling your thoughts can help give you peace and calm. And isn’t this mostly why you’re here?
TV
The most obvious form of entertainment for some. However, if you do not have the capacity (power) to run one, then you may need to consider something else……
GAMES
These may be board games, although there aren’t many you’d want to play by yourself, perhaps a pack of cards.
What about a Game Boy?
Ok, so they were discontinued a while ago, but there seems to have been a newly sparked interest this year, and people are restoring them for sale.
You can use an inverter to charge your laptop/tablet. You’ll need a good power system to enable the use of a PS5 or Xbox. Check the power (wattage) of your console and don’t forget to include the power of your monitor too (e.g. a TV).
Add the peak wattage of your console and your monitor together to determine your total power needs.
REMOTE WORKING
Naturally, if you are a digital nomad, then you need to ensure that you are fully kitted out to do your job.
Alongside a tablet or laptop, you may also need to consider headphones, microphones, recording devices, speakers.
MUSIC
I love listening to music. My headphones and my small speaker are without a doubt, ‘must-haves’ for me.
No EHU needed to charge them up. Just a 12V USB port is enough to get those tunes going and to lift my spirits if everything seems a little too quiet. Be considerate to others though.
If you’re more into ‘making music’, then consider taking your instrument with you. However, be mindful that not everyone wants to listen to you playing until the early hours.
I recently stayed on a site and the guy next to me started playing his clarinet. Great for a few minutes, but when he carried on, and on…..I couldn’t hear myself think. You can imagine what that did for my anxiety.
KNITTING/CROCHETING/EMBROIDERY
I have a close friend who knits. She makes the most beautiful things and gifts them to people for birthdays, Christmas or just to say a heartfelt thank you.
This may not be your thing. But if you’ve never tried, how will you know?
ARTWORK/PHOTOGRAPHY
If you are the creative kind, you may already paint or take photos.
I love photos. My phone is always busy taking shots of beautiful places or short videos when I arrive somewhere new.
Try it out. It may turn into something wonderful………
The information posted in this blog is purely based on personal experience ONLY. Please see the disclaimer on my homepage for further details.
