Introvert's necessary city essentials

If your introversion, like mine, is tied to being easily over-stimulated, I offer the following to help you make it through a day in the city.

Cities, of course, are loud places - loud for every sense. There are so many colors, people, sounds, smells - all of the senses can (and are) overwhelmed. You have to be careful crossing the street every block, vigilant about your belongings, sensitive to the intentions (good or bad) of those around you. And frankly, it's exhausting.

To shut out the noises (aural and otherwise) of the city, I turn to the following items. The goal is to make myself look as unapproachable as possible.

1) Black leather jacket. I prefer moto style, for a little edge and a lotta pockets.
2) The biggest over-ear headphones you can manage. The noise-cancel-ier, the better.
3) Enormous sunglasses. Think Jackie-Kennedy-avoiding-the-paparazzi big; the more of your face they take up, the better. Preferably reflective.

There are of course other things to make yourself safer: carry things in inside pockets rather than bags if possible, wear flat shoes (Doc Martens make good stomping boots, and protect you from every possible grossness), etc. But those three above items will see you far, if your goal is, like mine often is, to shut out the incessant stimulation of big city.

xo,
Devo