Mindset

• 13 Things Not To Do During SHTF

  In times of crisis, we often find ourselves in a state of confusion and panic. The recent pandemic has brought an awareness that people need to be prepared for any kind of situation. However, there are certain things that you should not do during an SHTF (Shit Hits The Fan) situation. Here are 13 things you should avoid during such times:

  1. Don't Panic: Panic leads to irrational decisions, which will end up hurting you in the long run. The best way to avoid panic is to be prepared. Make sure your pantry is full, and you have basic survival items such as food and water.

  2. Don't Obsess Over the News: While it's important to stay informed, being obsessed with the news can lead to confusion and inaction. Make sure you get your news from credible sources and don't let it take away from the action you need to take.

  3. Achieving Self-Sufficiency: Living Off the Grid and Embracing the Survival Lifestyle

     Introduction

     Living a self-sufficient life has become increasingly important in today's uncertain world. By embracing the survival lifestyle and disconnecting from mainstream infrastructure, individuals can achieve a sense of security and freedom. In this article, we will explore the concept of self-sufficiency, the benefits of living off the grid, and why living on a sailboat offers the perfect opportunity for self-sufficiency.

     Understanding Self-Sufficiency

     Self-sufficiency is the ability to provide for one's own needs without relying on external resources. By focusing on food, energy, and water independence, self-sufficiency offers numerous advantages. In times of crisis, self-sufficient individuals are better equipped to handle unexpected situations and maintain their livelihoods. It promotes resilience, adaptability, and a deeper connection with the natural world.

     Living Off the Grid

     Living off the grid means disconnecting from conventional utility systems and relying on alternative methods to meet our basic needs. By generating our own energy, growing our own food, and managing water resources, we become less dependent on external sources. This lifestyle choice offers benefits such as reduced expenses, environmental sustainability, and increased self-reliance.

  4. Attitude is Everything: Maintaining a Positive Mindset During Tumultuous Times

     When times get tough, it’s easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when life throws a curveball our way. But no matter how difficult things may seem, it is important to take a step back and incorporate positivity into our lives.

     Research has proven time and again that our thoughts and actions influence our wellbeing, and attitude is everything when it comes to our ability to cope with challenges. Our attitude determines how we experience difficult times.

     Maintaining a positive attitude takes some effort. It requires us to look beyond the circumstances, rather than get bogged down in them. Indeed, when trying times come our way, we must remember that it’s always possible to shine a light on our situation and still feel OK. There is always hope amidst the turmoil.

  5. Denial as a Defense Mechanism

     Denial is a type of defense mechanism that involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. In the case of denial, it can involve not acknowledging reality or denying the consequences of that reality.

     If you are in denial, it often means that you are struggling to accept something that seems overwhelming or stressful. However, in the short term, this defense mechanism can have a useful purpose. It can allow you to have time to adjust to a sudden change in your reality. By giving yourself time, you might be able to accept, adapt, and eventually move on.

     But denial can also cause problems in your life, particularly if it keeps you from addressing a problem or making a needed change. In some cases, it can prevent you from accepting help or getting the treatment that they need.

     Denial was first described by the famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who described it as refusing to acknowledge upsetting facts about external events and internal ones, including memories, thoughts, and feelings.

  6. How to Prepare for a Disaster: 10 Steps to Ensure Survival

     Natural disasters or man-made crises can strike at any moment, leaving entire communities in chaos. When everything around you is in disarray, it can be difficult to know what steps to take to ensure your safety and that of your family. However, with some planning and preparation, you can increase your chances of survival. Here are ten essential steps to help you weather the storm.

     1. Establish Communication

        In times of crisis, effective communication is essential to keep your loved ones and team members safe. The first step to preparing for an emergency is to establish a reliable means of communication with your family and team. Waiting until an emergency has already happened to develop a plan for communication can be too late, so it's important to do it as quickly as possible.

        If your family members or team members are not in proximity, you'll need to develop a plan for how you'll communicate with each other during an emergency. It's crucial to keep in mind that during certain disasters, such as an EMP, communication over electrical devices may not be possible. This is why it's important to have alternative means of communication, like a ham radio, as a backup option.

     2. Live Your Survival and Gain Sufficiency, by E.M.

        Guest article by E.M.

        Self-sufficiency – noun: the state of not requiring any aid, support, or interaction, for survival; it is therefore a type of personal or collective independence.

        Survival– noun: the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances.

        In our day-to-day world, there are varied degrees of survival required of us. This is true simply because there are wide-ranging degrees of threat that we face.

        And in today’s economic death spiral of Keynesian Economics, politically corrupt leadership, and a war torn world, many are already beginning to experience the peripheral edge of a “deep survival” state because of those same threats. There are more at that edge than I think we care to admit. Government figures of non-participation in the labor force and welfare rolls alone support this. We can look at the high percentage of millennials still at home and the lack of savings they have. Let’s not forget the fact that one out of five families does not have anyone working in them.

     3. Preparing for Natural Disasters: A Comprehensive Guide

        Natural disasters can strike unexpectedly, causing immense damage and posing significant threats to human lives and infrastructure. From hurricanes and floods to earthquakes and wildfires, it is essential to be prepared for such events to ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various aspects of preparing for natural disasters, including assessing risks, creating an emergency plan, building an emergency kit, securing your property, staying informed, assisting vulnerable populations, and fostering community resilience. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your resilience and readiness when faced with a natural disaster.

        1. Assessing Risks and Understanding Disasters

        The first step in preparing for natural disasters is to assess the risks specific to your region. Research and understand the types of disasters that commonly occur in your area, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, or tsunamis. Evaluate the likelihood and potential impact of these events based on historical data and expert advice. Consider reaching out to local emergency management agencies or accessing online resources to gather relevant information about the risks in your community.

     4. Survival Skills 101: Essential Techniques for Beginners

        In a world filled with uncertainties, having basic survival skills is crucial for everyone. Whether you find yourself in a natural disaster, lost in the wilderness, or facing a societal collapse, knowing how to survive in challenging situations can mean the difference between life and death. In this article, we will explore some essential survival skills that beginners can learn and practice to increase their chances of survival when faced with unexpected circumstances.

        1. Shelter Building

        One of the first priorities in a survival situation is shelter. Understanding how to create a shelter using natural materials can provide protection from the elements and help maintain body temperature. Learn to identify suitable locations and utilize available resources such as branches, leaves, and debris to construct a sturdy and insulated shelter.

     5. The Psychology of Survival: Mental Preparedness in Crisis Situations

        Survival situations can be incredibly challenging, both physically and mentally. When faced with emergencies, disasters, or life-threatening situations, it is not only our physical skills and resources that determine our chances of survival but also our mental preparedness. Understanding the psychology of survival and adopting effective mental strategies can make a significant difference in our ability to stay calm, make rational decisions, and overcome adversity. In this article, we will delve into the psychological aspects of survival and explore essential mental preparedness techniques to help you navigate crisis situations successfully.

        1. The Survival Mindset

        In any survival scenario, maintaining a positive and resilient mindset is crucial. The survival mindset involves a combination of mental toughness, adaptability, and a strong will to survive. It is about cultivating the belief that you can overcome challenges and find solutions even in the most dire circumstances. Developing a survival mindset involves:

     6. Three Stages in Crisis Management When Dealing With a Situation

        As a Professor teaching business administration, and living a prepared lifestyle on my sailboat, I have seen many instances where crisis management comes in to play. The average Prepper would do well to follow business lessons in crisis management. Whether it's your business having to deal with new legislation, or a family dealing with an approaching forest fire, the methodologies for effectively and successfully managing the crisis are the same.

        David Crawford

        Crisis management can refer to the formal and systematic policies and procedures put in place to respond to specific crisis situations in a business, or more generally to the ways in which managers and entrepreneurs respond to crisis situations. In either case, effective crisis management is crucial for managers, who must respond quickly by developing and implementing response strategies, delegating and supervising a range of individual tasks and managing the effects of the crisis.

     7. Top 10 Mistakes Preppers Make and How to Avoid Them

        Preparing for emergencies is a wise decision, and there is no doubt that it is better to be prepared for the worst-case scenario than not. However, there are many mistakes that preppers make, which can result in their preparation efforts becoming futile. In this article, we will take a look at the top ten mistakes preppers make and how to avoid them.

        1. Failing To Evaluating Your Risk
           

           One of the significant mistakes preppers make is failing to evaluate the risks they face. Many people plan for one scenario and do not consider other possibilities. It is essential to evaluate the potential risks in your area, such as power outages, tornadoes, hurricanes, civil unrest, economic meltdown, nuclear incidents, and pandemics. By evaluating your risks, you can prepare for life and be better prepared for any situation that may arise.

        2. Turning Sceptics into Preppers

           Are you ready for a snowstorm? Or a thunderstorm that knocks out power for days? How about a flood that leaves you stranded at home without food or water? These are all situations that can and will happen in different parts of the world. And while many people believe that prepping is only for extreme scenarios such as a nuclear war or a zombie apocalypse, the truth is that being prepared for everyday emergencies is just as important.

           The problem is that many people are sceptical about prepping. They may see it as an unnecessary expense or something that only conspiracy theorists do. But with the right approach, it is possible to turn sceptics into preppers. The key is to focus on situations that will happen, rather than hypothetical scenarios.

        3. Types of Disasters

           In today's fast-paced world, it is crucial to be prepared for disasters. Whether it be a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a major event, being prepared can mean the difference between life and death. The first step in preparing for disasters is understanding the different types of disasters and the potential threats they pose.

           My thinking has always been, prepare today for disasters that WILL happen, and prepare tomorrow for disasters that MAY happen.

           Primary Threats

           What will happen depends upon where you are located.

           I used to live in Northern Ontario. There were a few emergencies that would hit each year. During the winter, ice storms and blizzards were the biggest hazard, and during the summer forest fires and wind storms (including the occasional tornado). These events would inevitably lead to power outages, and delays in deliveries to stores. When these went on for several days there could be shortages of food and gasoline in the local area.

           While we were never affected by forest fires, we lived on a road named "Little Brule Road". Brule is French for "burn" and it got it's name from a former forest fire that swept through many years before. So it was definitely a possibility. And Northern Ontario had multiple forest fires each summer, that was a guarantee. It was just a question of would there be one in your area.

        4. What will the next disaster be?

           Are most people preparing for a total end-of-the-world event where there is global anarchy?

           Or are most people preparing for local disaster/emergency, their home country failing, et cetera.

           My View

           The last global event happened in what is now Mexico, and was 66 million years ago. While the last major local event started in February when Russia invaded Ukraine. And there are going to be minor local events around the globe every week.

           So while it would be nice to be prepared to survive another asteroid impact, or a global nuclear war, or similar, the chances you will need that are minimal.

        5. What's the difference between a "Prepper" and a "Survivalist"?

           While the terms "prepper" and "survivalist" are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some differences in their beliefs and practices:

           1. Focus: Preppers tend to focus on being prepared for natural disasters, economic collapse, or other disruptions in society. Survivalists, on the other hand, tend to focus more on the ability to survive in a wilderness or post-apocalyptic scenario.

           2. Lifestyle: Preppers often prepare by stockpiling food, water, and other supplies, as well as learning skills such as gardening, canning, and first aid. Survivalists often focus more on developing self-sufficiency skills such as hunting, trapping, and wilderness survival.