everyday carry
I try to carry as little as possible with me when I'm on the go:
I have a small key ring with my two house keys on it. The key ring has a few other charms: a couple of Japanese coins threaded through the centre hole, a small bee pendant, and a thin fob. They all have a meaning to me, and they give the key ring a satisfying weight.
I wear a watch made by Architect. It's a very simple, analogue style with a large clockface and brown leather strap. A recent addition, as I've not always worn a watch, but increasingly necessary with a busy schedule. Also, keeps me from pulling out my phone to check the time.
I carry a micro wallet from Paperwallet that's the same size as my bank cards. Extremely light and low profile. I can carry it in different pockets depending on where I'm going. I keep two bank cards in the wallet and some cash for emergencies, in case I get stuck.
I use a basic phone as my primary device. It lets me live without the constant source of noise and distraction that smartphones have become, but it still has everything I need to get by. I'm sure that there's an argument that the smartphone eliminates the need for both a watch and a wallet (using virtual cards) but that's not what I'm aiming for.
That's it!
I used to include earbud headphones in this list, but I lost the charging case a few months ago and just never replaced it. I've always considered headphones absolutely essential, especially when travelling around a busy, noisy city like London or for long train journeys, but I'm learning to tune things out. I also exercise and run entirely without them now.
The only other item that probably deserves a mention on this list is a book - I always take one with me when I go anywhere by train, or if I know I'll be hanging around somewhere for a while.