The term EDC stands for Every Day Carry. It refers to the gear that you carry on your person throughout the day. We all have an EDC, whether we realize or not. The typical every day carry for most folks includes: cell phone, wallet, keys. But from these basic three, you can expand and personalize your EDC in unlimited ways.
The Key to EDC
The most important thing to remember when in comes to your every day carry is that it needs to be appropriate and functional to your life. It is your EDC. Take the time to consider what items you use on a regular basis. How many of these can you conveniently carry around with you to make daily life easier? Often this means taking a small bag, purse, or backpack around with you, but it doesn’t have to. Find a creative way to keep your necessary gear handy in the car or at the office.
I have already posted an article where I break down my basic EDC – the items I keep on my person anytime I leave the house. You can find that article here: My Pocket Carry.
How to build your EDC
Remember, because this is your every day carry you need to think about what you do, who you are, and what you expect to face.
If you’re a parent of infant or toddlers, you probably already carry around a diaper bag. Start there and make sure it’s always stocked with what you need.
You may find that having a good pen at hand is important to you. So invest in one and carry it around.
An important part of any EDC is some sort of basic first aid kit. This could be as simple as two bandaids stuffed in your wallet. Or, you might want to purchase a family kit to keep in the car.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that your EDC needs to be convenient for you. If it is too big or gets shoved in a drawer somewhere, it’s not going to be of much use to you and you won’t have it when you need it. Start small. Grab one or two things that might be handy to have – a spare phone charger or a handkerchief. Then, make sure your EDC kit is kept readily available. Mine typically resides in a key bowl right next to the front door.
Why should you have an EDC?
Well, to start with, you already do! Whether you realized it or not you already have those couple things you always carry when you leave the house. The goal here is to put just a touch more intentionality behind it. Go beyond just want is necessary and think through what could be helpful or solve a problem when you’re out. You should have an EDC because you want to be ready for any challenges the day brings.
The goal is to reduce the stress we encounter in daily life and to be prepared for the obstacles that get in our way. If you do not already have an intentional every day carry kit, I encourage you to get started today!
