Lighten your load

Take time today to check the weight of your bag and remove any unnecessary items.

Wear the straps over both shoulders or regularly alternate the hand or shoulder you use to carry it.

This will minimise the risk of back, neck and shoulder pain.

People mock me for the size of my bag. It’s a really big shoulder bag and I take it everywhere with me. It’s full of stuff: make-up bag, hairbrush, purse, two mobile phones (personal and work), book (currently the third volume of the Lord of the Rings), my diabetes kit, keys, Oyster card, diary, umbrella. The thing is though, I need it all!

As I couldn’t take anything out, I concentrated on making sure I spread the weight evenly as I carried it. I usually have it slung over my right shoulder and do sometimes find that I get a pain in the muscles on that side, so today I held it in my hands and swapped sides regularly.

It didn’t feel quite comfortable, which I guess goes to show how much of a habit I’ve got into of just carrying it over my right shoulder. I’ll try to carry it differently more often from now on.