Best hobbies to increase your preparedness and survival skills

Best way to increase your preparedness/survival skills? Find a new hobby.

by Leon Pantenburg

Preparing for potential disasters can be, well… boring sometimes. Nobody wants to spend all their time focusing on negative stuff and unexciting preparedness tasks. But how about taking up a fun hobby that could be applied to survival?

Here are some suggestions about how to get started. Consider:

• • • Is there an activity you frequently think about?
    • What area of your life could use improvement?
    • What things do you do that makes you more relaxed?
    • What was a favorite kid activity?

  Certain benefits may come with this new hobby, such as:

  • • Lowered stress levels.
    • Increased physical health.
    • Better sleep patterns.
    • Your level of happiness increases.
    • Other areas of your lives may start to show signs of improvement.

  Here are some of my hobbies that enhance readiness.

  Martial arts: Learning how to defend yourself is a fundamental survival skill and there are additional benefits: physical fitness, self control, confidence etc. One of the best things I ever did for myself was to start Taekwondo when I was 18. I was an active participant for the next 30 years.

  

  Some 30+ years of Taekwondo taught me many important things. I even learned self-defense!

  Foraging: I love rambling in the woods, deserts and plains, and finding plants that can be used in the kitchen is a delicious bonus. Foraging gets you outside, with the added benefits of fresh air and exercise. And you’ll never know when the edible/medicinal plant knowledge may be a game changer.

  Bushcraft: This is the art of becoming comfortable in the outdoors, using minimal tools and accumulated wilderness skills. Watch Youtube videos, look for teachers and get a good book. (Blatant commercialism here!)

• My experience is that the Bushcraft community is a warm, welcoming group, happy to share knowledge. I’ve been to the Georgia Bushcraft Fall and spring campouts, and had a great time while meeting new people and learning new skills.
• Camping differs from bushcraft because the activity leans heavily on modern equipment. Tents, campers, and sleeping bags take the misery out of outdoor living and ensure a comfortable night’s rest. Portable stoves, grills, and pre-packaged meals make cooking easy.
• Camping is a good skill to have in the aftermath of a natural disaster. There is always the possibility you might have to leave a disaster zone, and there will be no place to stay.
• 

  Disasters can happen anytime, and you may need to shelter outdoors for a while.

  Dutch Oven Cooking: Learn how to assemble a Dutch oven survival kit and cook over a campfire. Then, if an off-grid survival situation occurs, you’ll know how to boil water and prepare food under primitive conditions.

  Also, cooking is another valuable skill. Combine campfire cooking with culinary skills for delicious results.
  

  Working out: This is a no-brainer. If you can’t physically carry your bug-out bag or backpack very far, it doesn’t matter how much stuff you have or how good your gear is.

  If you’re currently inactive, begin by taking small steps. Start  a walking program, and  gradually increase the intensity of your workouts until you reach an appropriate fitness level. Before starting any fitness program, consult your doctor. You may want to start  by consulting a personal trainer at the gym.

  Hunting and fishing: This is another no-brainer. Being able to supplement your food supply with wild game and fish could be the key to survival.

  Backpacking: I’ve been an avid backpacker for some 50+ years. The activity can teach you about hiking footwear, packs, lightweight food, portable shelter etc. Not to mention – there are some incredible Backcountry scenic vistas you must earn.

  

  The whole family can enjoy hiking and backpacking.

  Play an instrument: You’re never too old to learn how to make music. My favorite oldie musician story concerns my friend Steve Jensen. In his 60s, Steve won the Breedlove guitar raffle at the 2012 High and Dry Bluegrass Festival in Bend, Oregon. He had no musical experience and no idea of how to play it.

  Fast forward – Steve took guitar lessons, and today he plays bass with Appaloosa, a popular Central Oregon country band. Musicians will be in demand during grid-down situations in dark, long winter evenings.

  Learn a new language: This activity can also be done during long, dark winter evenings, and all ages can participate. Communication skills are always useful.

  Gardening: Yet another no-brainer. Learn to grow your food for fun, and you’ll know what to do if you ever have to grow food in a survival situation.

  All these hobbies can contribute to your overall survival/preparedness skills. Look around, think about what activities can be applied to your situation, then get going!

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• And to the website: https://survivalcommonsense.com/
• Check out my book: “Bushcraft Basics: A Common Sense Wilderness Survival Handbook.” Get your signed copy of “Bushcraft Basics” here: https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerc...
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