Leaving your dorm without your laptop and phone chargers is the number one way to ruin your day. Learn from my mistakes and avoid that dreaded 20% battery notification during your Zoom class by keeping an extra charger in your bag. Streamline your life with a multiport charger like this Anker model, which can charge up nearly anything (including a lot of laptops), thanks to its 65-watt power rating and multiple USB ports (both USB-C and USB-A are here, so it'll work with nearly any portable gadget). 

Now that you've got the charger, don't forget about the cables. iPhones and some Apple accessories use Lightning, while USB-C cables are becoming the standard for nearly everything else. Keep a handful of styles and lengths in your bag so you'll never be caught empty handed.

Even in a digital world, where you've probably already spent a lot of money on a laptop, you'll likely need a piece of paper at some point. Grab that spare notebook you've had for years but never used or treat yourself to a new, fun one. Throw in a pencil and pen while you're at it too. 

Band-Aids, antiseptic, aspirin and other first aid items aren't things you think about until you need them. Having a first aid kit in your dorm (or, even better, a small one in your backpack) will save you a lot of time and hassle in the future. Amazon sells complete kits like this one or you can DIY it. Either way, you don't need to spend much to ensure you'll be prepared.