Check, Check, Check

Every time I leave my apartment, I usually check three things. Wallet in the back right pocket if there is one in my pants. If not, I make sure it's in my left pocket. Also in my left pocket should be my keys. In my right pocket will be my phone. These items come with me no matter where I go; I'm sure you are in the same situation but with maybe more items though. Usually I do the quick pats to make sure I have essentials before I leave. But on rare occasions, I don't.

This is where the worst can happen. It can lead to not have one of the items for the entire day! To be honest, I feel ridiculous awkward without one of these item on me. Keys are extremely important since without them, I would have no access to my apartment or Electra. Without my wallet, I wouldn't be able to go out to eat or buy anything. But worst of all would be my phone. Feeling the sense of not being able to reach/be reached at anything is a bit worrisome.

If you have a fear of not having your phone, you have Nomophobia. In a study done in Great Britain, over 70% of participants had Nomophobia (I'm sure the numbers are about the same in the US). People with Nomophobia feel stress when without their phones (or no power) or have no cell service. While I fear not being there for people when they need me, I don't stress over it. In contrast, I actually am more relaxed when I don't have my phone. I enjoy not being "connected" to the entire world in that small device (sometimes).

While the absence of one of these items may feel awkward, the misplacement of the items in a different pocket is even worse!

P.S. If I bought the pair of Dockers I wrote about a few months ago, I could have a designated cell phone pocket! Only if...