When we hear the word “preparedness,” we usually think about preparing our house for survival or improving our prepping skills.
These things will not matter, however, if we fall sick when SHTF.
Imagine if a tornado hit, and you suddenly raised a 104°F fever.
You wouldn’t even be able to protect yourself – much less your whole family.
Having a strong immune system is a crucial aspect of preparedness.
When emergencies strike, the last thing you want is to be bogged down by illness.
That’s why you should take simple steps to keep your immune system in top shape.
First and foremost, make sure you sleep at least 7 hours every night.
Sleep is essential for every aspect of our lives.
Next, eat wholefood meals.
A lot of people nowadays are poisoning their bodies with ultra-processed foods and packaged meals.
Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your meals.
These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy immune system.
Also, consider adding probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kefir to your nutrition, as they help to keep your gut healthy, which is where 70 percent of your immune system is located.
In addition, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Water helps to flush out toxins and keep your immune system functioning properly.
These 3 things are the most important factors in a strong immune system.
But we shouldn’t neglect exercise. It helps our bodies function properly and shields us from disease.
If your job involves manual labor, then you probably have that covered.
Otherwise, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily.
Whether it’s a brisk walk, a jog, or a gym session, make sure you move your body every day.
You should also minimize stress.
Chronic stress can be detrimental to our health.
If you find yourself stressed daily, you need to look for a way to change that.
Keeping our immune system strong is not often discussed in the prepping world.
Yet, staying healthy is a crucial aspect of preparedness.
If you think someone will benefit from the tips in this newsletter, why don’t you forward it to them?
Have you ever been to the oral aisle at the supermarket?
There is a huge variety of products.
Manual and electric toothbrushes…
Fluoride and non-fluoride options kinds of toothpaste…
Mouthwash…
The list goes on.
Dental hygiene is important, but it always gets me thinking…
How did our ancestors brush their teeth?
They didn’t have these items.
But apparently, they survived.
I figured that there must have been some kind of a “trick” that they did.
And that in a survival situation, it might come in handy.
When I did some research, I found that they used a variety of methods.
For example, the ancient Egyptians and Greeks used tooth sticks, which were thin sticks or rods that were used to clean their teeth and massage their gums.
The sticks were often made from twigs or other natural materials and were used much like a toothbrush.
In other cultures, people chewed on twigs or leaves that were believed to have cleansing and medicinal properties.
Some used a mixture of ashes and salt to brush their teeth, while others rubbed their teeth with a cloth or used a fingernail to clean them.
As you can see, there are many different ways to maintain oral hygiene.
In a survival situation, it’s okay if you don’t have your usual tools with you.
You can take care of your teeth and gums as best you can, using improvised methods if necessary.
To maintain good dental hygiene in an emergency, it is recommended to:
Rinse your mouth with water regularly to release food particles and plaque.
Use a toothbrush or tooth stick to clean your teeth if possible.
Brush your teeth with baking soda or salt if toothpaste is not available.
You can carry these things in your kit.
But even if you don’t have anything with you, you can improvise to take care of your basic oral needs.
Something is always better than nothing.
We should keep this in mind in every prep we do.
If you happen to know any other ways to maintain oral health in emergencies, I would love to hear them!
Did you know getting good at chess would improve your prepping abilities?
Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to learn how to play chess.
In fact, I don’t even know the rules of that game!
But I do know that it requires a lot of strategic thinking.
And that professional chess players can quickly think of 15 or 20 moves ahead in each move.
This is exactly what is needed for prepping.
Being prepared means more than just stocking up on food and weapons.
It means having a comprehensive plan in place that covers a wide range of scenarios and contingencies.
Without a plan, we risk being caught unaware and unable to respond effectively to emergencies.
But planning for emergencies is not easy.
There is always something different to prepare for.
Earthquakes…
Tornados…
Power Outages…
One can’t ever account for everything.
Sometimes we don’t even know what we are preparing for.
Take the chemical spill in Ohio, for example.
How could the residents see this coming?
And how could they even prepare for it?
Well, the truth is, with a proper planning system, you can prepare for anything.
You’ll see how in a minute.
First, you need to know:
Why Planning Is So Important.
Imagine you lived in an area that is prone to hurricanes.
You’ve stocked up on food and water…
You have a generator…
…and you’ve secured your house as best you can.
You feel confident that you are prepared for the next big storm.
But suddenly, a huge storm hits.
One that is bigger than any other storm your area has seen.
It completely destroys your preparations and your house is not safe anymore.
You have to bug out.
But the issue is, it happened on a school day. And your children still haven’t gotten back from school.
How will you let them know where to meet?
Your smartphone is not working because the power grid stopped working.
It’s a disaster!
Well, this is where foresight comes in handy.
If you had agreed on a meeting place in case your preparations didn’t work, then this would have been solved.
Getting good at planning means preparing for things that most people would not even think about.
Of course, this was a far-fetched scenario…
But it goes to show…
A proper plan can help you and your family overcome even the craziest catastrophe.
That’s why I’ll show you simple ways to become good at this skill.
And give you ideas on how to practice your planning abilities so that you are always ready.
Find Your Commitment Level
Before you start working on your planning skills, there is something that you have to figure out first…
You need to assess your level of commitment.
The reason this is so important is that developing this skill is not something easy.
You will not become good at it overnight.
Just like professional chess players work very hard to improve their skills, you will have to go over some roadblocks.
If you are aware of your commitment level before you even start, however, you will be in a much better position to work through these roadblocks.
Before you read the rest of the article, ask yourself these questions:
How much time and effort are you willing to invest in planning for emergencies?
If improving your planning skills gets too hard, would you continue working on them?
What challenges are you willing to face?
Take your time and honestly answer these questions.
This way, you can set realistic goals for yourself and ensure that you don’t overcommit or burn out.
How To Improve Your Planning Skills
Once you’ve figured out your commitment level, it is finally time to improve your planning abilities.
When it comes to planning for emergencies, there are some key elements that every prepping plan should include.
These elements include risk assessment, threat analysis, resource inventory, and contingency planning.
Let’s explore each of these elements in more detail:
Risk assessment.
This is the process of identifying potential risks and hazards that could affect you and your loved ones.
This includes natural disasters, economic collapse, civil unrest, and other potential emergencies.
You can even include risks that are not your plan.
Neglecting to prepare for something is also a risk.
Consider everything that could go wrong.
Threat analysis.
This is where you evaluate the risks.
Conduct a threat analysis to evaluate:
The likelihood of each threat.
The potential impact of each threat.
This will help you prioritize your planning efforts and allocate resources.
Resource inventory.
A resource inventory involves taking stock of the resources you have on hand and identifying any gaps in your preparedness.
This includes:
Food,
Water,
Medication
Weapons and ammunition
Other essential items.
Contingency planning.
Contingency planning involves developing a plan B in case your primary plan fails (Remember the storm example?).
This can include backup evacuation routes, secondary locations for shelter, or contingency supply sources.
By including these key elements in your prepping plan, you can be better prepared for a wide range of emergencies and increase your probability of survival.
Tips That Will Make This Easier
If you’ve read this far, you have probably realized that this will take some work.
But, remember, you are committed.
Which means that you are willing to do whatever it takes to become better at planning.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use simple advice that will make this journey easier.
Start small.
If you are not an experienced prepper, it is easy to become overwhelmed.
Start with a simple plan for a specific scenario, such as a short power outage.
This will help you build confidence and develop your planning skills.
Once you feel ready, move on to harder challenges, such as natural disasters.
Set goals.
Determine what you want to achieve with your prepping plan.
And set realistic, measurable goals to help you stay motivated and on track.
Involve your family.
Doing everything alone is tough. And definitely not fun.
If you involve your whole family in the prepping process, everything will proceed much smoother.
Plus, everyone is going to be on the same page so they will know what to do in emergencies.
Stay organized.
Keep your prepping plan and items organized and easily accessible so you can quickly respond to emergencies.
You can use checklists, journal entries, or your preferred way of taking notes.
Continuously review and update your plan.
The risks we face are constantly changing.
So it’s important to regularly review and update your prepping plan to ensure that it remains effective and relevant.
Planning is a crucial part of prepping.
And can make a huge difference in ensuring your family’s safety.
By developing this skill, you will be in a much better position to survive any emergency.
If you have been trying to prepare for emergencies, then you have probably come across the same roadblock that most preppers have… practice.
As a prepper, it is very difficult to put your prepping skills to the test.
Emergencies simply don’t happen that often.
So you can’t know whether your preparations are up to the task or not.
Practice, however, is a crucial aspect of every skill we develop.
They say that the first step to getting better at anything is to suck at it first.
And to identify your flaws, try to fix them, and improve over time.
But how can you do that with prepping?
Well, with little imagination, you can take steps to test your prepping techniques and stay prepared for any eventuality.
I’ll show you how to do that in a minute.
First, you need to…
Understand Your Prepping Needs
I wish I could give you a clear-cut path that you should follow.
But depending on where you live and your current situation, you need to develop the appropriate skills.
Before testing your skills, though, you need to understand what you need to test.
There are several ways to do that:
Identify Potential Emergencies
The first step is to understand what types of emergencies are most likely to occur in your area.
Look at your town’s history, or ask the local residents what the most dangerous disaster that they had to go through was.
Additionally, consider factors such as natural disasters, power outages, and other events that could disrupt your family.
Assess Your Resources
Take stock of what items and resources you currently have on hand and identify any gaps in your prepping plan.
Consider things like food, water, shelter, clothing, and medication, as well as any tools or equipment that you may need.
Determine Your Priorities
With a clear understanding of your needs, it is easier to prioritize what skills and items you should focus on first.
For example, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, your priority might be to have a solid evacuation plan in place.
Putting Your Prepping Skills To The Test
It is finally time to test your skills.
You first need to find a safe and controlled environment.
This is where you will be pushing yourself to find flaws in your survival plan.
There are several ways you can do that.
Simulated Emergency Scenarios
One effective way to test your prepping skills is to create simulated emergency scenarios that mimic real situations.
This allows you to see how well you can handle different types of emergencies using your equipment and skills.
For example, you could simulate a power outage, and see how well you can respond to the situation.
We actually make a game out of this in my household and even have the kids evolve in the prepping process.
Practice Essential Skills
This is a simpler one to execute. But it is also time-consuming.
You just try out your essential skills.
This includes building shelters, starting fires, purifying water, and more.
Regularly practicing these skills will help you feel more confident using them in real situations.
And most importantly, it will help you identify any areas that may need improvement.
Seek Feedback From Other Preppers
Sometimes we don’t see an obvious mistake we are making until someone points it out to us.
Just last week, a buddy of mine told me some of my emergency foods had expired.
I had forgotten to look!
Speaking to other preppers can help you see your skills and equipment from a different perspective.
I go over my emergency plans with my friends very often.
And I suggest you do too.
Engage in Community Preparedness Efforts
Your local community can give you tons of chances to test your prepping skills.
Many communities hold emergency preparedness drills and exercises.
These can be excellent times to test your skills and learn from others.
By actively participating in these efforts, you can ensure that you are fully prepared to handle any emergency situation that may arise.
Stay Up-To-Date With Modern Developments
What works nowadays is different from what worked 10 years ago.
The prepping community is always evolving and advancing.
So it is important to stay informed about the latest developments and advancements in the field.
This can include:
Researching and learning about modern technologies and gear.
Stay informed about the latest gear and technologies available to preppers.
There is always different stuff coming out.
Just recently, for example, I learned that 3D printers are incredible for preppers.
Staying informed about current events.
Information is one of the most crucial aspects of prepping.
Keep up with current events and news that may impact your preparedness.
If there is an occurring strain of a disease or a major flood, for instance, you should be aware of how these events could impact your area and your preparedness plan.
Practice and Maintain Your Prepping Skills Regularly
Prepping is not a goal. It’s a way of living.
You need to regularly evaluate your plan and change it depending on the circumstances.
This is why prepping should be a regular part of your routine.
This could mean setting aside time to practice your skills, update your equipment, and reassess your plan.
Your skills are not ever going to be flawless.
As you learn about different technologies and gear, incorporate them into your survival plan.
This can help you stay prepared and up-to-date with the latest developments.
Socrates said that unexamined lives are not worth living.
Same goes for prepping.
An unexamined plan is not worth having.
You need to constantly reassess your prepping plan to ensure that it is still relevant and effective.
Putting your prepping skills to the test is an essential part of being truly prepared for an emergency.
Prepping is not just about having gear and a plan.
It’s about actively practicing and refining your skills so that you are ready for any situation.
Remember, being prepared means being ready for the unexpected.
So take the time to test your prepping skills and continually improve your preparedness.
Having Fish available is one of the best ways of getting your daily protein intake during an apocalyptic situation. There’s plenty of water around, but only a few have the skills to fish for their survival. Having a distinct advantage sets you apart from others and might come in handy down the line.
If it comes to fishing for your survival, there are a couple of different options. Like many non-preppers, you can take the more common approach and use rods and reels, but then there’s the storage issue, replacing broken equipment, and let’s not forget the cost of maintaining them. Or you can do what many other preppers prefer, which is a more raw yet simple method for survival fishing.
We’ll talk about both.
Your Fishing Gear
Start by collecting the gear you need to catch fish, this will make it more budget-friendly to stockpile the items needed over time. For your first purchase, I would go with a survival fishing pole. They are easy to store and lightweight, but not the most effective for catching fish.
I can tell you this though, they’re way better than a stick, rope, and hook.
As for your reel, go with whatever you can afford. In a survival situation, it’s not going to matter what brand your reel is or where you got it from. You just need to make sure it gets the job done.
Live Bait Vs. Artificial Lures
Honestly, you want to go with the most basic option possible if you’re choosing artificial lures. All that matters is you being able to catch fish, and it needs to be quick and efficient. Also, make sure you have a variety of sizes in lures anywhere from 1.5 inches – 6 inches in length. If you come across a small stream, the small lure would be perfect to catch something quick to eat. Regardless of if you’re trying to feed an entire family or just yourself, your focus needs to be on quantity over quality and on finding ways to make the fish last.
Netting
If want to take a more simple approach, there are plenty of options. Netting or trapping for one, and there are a number of different nets you can use. This is a passive form of fishing which is preferred because it allows you to do something else while you’re fishing in most cases.
Here are some options for netting:
Trotlines – One of the most primitive and passive ways of survival fishing. You attach a mainline on both sides of the river or pond and then hang secondary lines down into the water with bait on them. The secondary lines get weights, so they rest near the bottom of the water, and the baited hooks will stay in place until you return to see if you caught anything.
Gill nets – A nylon net with large enough openings for the fish to swim through until they reach the gills. Making it the perfect passive fishing strategy because while you’re getting other things set up, you can check on the net at any time. This important method is great when you need to provide food for more than one person.
Drift nets – A drift net functions in a similar way but requires you to have a vessel to pull the net. The net is moving through the water, it will also grab anything that passes through it. Using this method, you’ll want to bug out near a popular river or stream system.
Killing and cleaning your catch
As a part of the “circle of life”, we need to appreciate and respect our catch, especially for situations where our survival depends on it. Here is a simple way of cleaning your fish if you don’t have any other way:
Find a rock with sharp edges.
Put the fish on a hard flat surface
Use one hand to secure it in place
Use the rock to strike it right above the eye with a large amount of force
This will stun the fish but not kill it, be sure to repeat this a few times
Fishing during a survival crisis is a great way to source rich in protein foods in the event of a food shortage or power grid failure. Learning skills that we can rely on is essential during emergency situations.
Always remember, it’s always better to prep in advance rather than wait until it’s a SHTF situation.
TheDailyChristian 