It’s hard to believe the new year is already upon us.
In 2015 we saw financial crises, earthquakes, military action, hurricanes, terror attacks, and massacres. There’s no telling what 2016 holds, but if the previous year is any indication, we need to be prepared.
Fortunately, the new year is a great opportunity to change your habits and become a better prepper. Not sure where to get started? Here are some survival tips to make sure you start 2016 off on the right foot.
Survival Tips for the New Year
1. Stock your pantry.
This is a great time to take inventory of your food storage, throw expired food away, and make sure you’re stocked up on the essentials. Ideally, it’s best to have at least a year’s worth of food stored up — but of course, building your food storage up to that point takes time. Starting right now will give you a head start. Click here to learn how to get started with at-home food storage.
2. Prep your vehicle.
The beginning of the year is a great time to make sure your vehicles are in good working order. In case you need to bug out or evacuate, it’s important that your vehicle is as prepared as you are. Click here and here to learn how to make your car into a survival vehicle.
3. Review your family survival plan.
Do you have a family survival plan in place? If not, you need one. And if you do, it’s always good to go over it with your family to remind everyone what to do and to make any necessary changes. This should be done at least yearly, and the new year is a great opportunity to get everyone together. Click here to learn about making a family preparedness plan.
4. Stock your bug out bag.
A lot of preppers put together a bug out bag, then keep it in a closet somewhere and never touch it again. In reality, you should be checking your bug out bag often to make sure you didn’t forget everything and that all your gadgets (like flashlights and communication devices) are in good working order. Be sure to check all batteries. Here is a list of essentials for your bug out bag, as well as tips for building special bug out bags for women and pets.
No bug out bag is complete without this tool!
5. Prepare for power outages.
With New Year’s upon us, we still have several months left of winter. That means there’s a risk for winter storms and freezing temperatures that could lead to power outages. Outages present unique challenges for preppers, and it’s important to be prepared for any short- or long-term outages that may occur. Click here to learn how to prepare for a power outage.
6. Get your kids prepared.
Since you likely have a week or two left of winter break and may be stuck inside due to bad weather, this is a great time to get your kids excited about preparedness. The skills you teach them now will last them the rest of the year and beyond. Click here to learn how to prep with kids.
7. Get ready for spring gardening.
It may be winter now, but spring will be here before you know it, and we all know what that means: time for gardening! In order to get the most out of your garden this year, you should start planning now by deciding which plants you want to plant this year. Here are some pointers to help you get started.
8. Stock up on first aid supplies.
There’s nothing more important than being prepared for a medical emergency. Not only should you stock up on the basics like bandages, rubbing alcohol and antibiotic cream, you should also make sure to stock up on any medicine or supplies for your family’s specific medical needs. Here is an article on building a home first aid kit.
9. Get fit.
When it comes to survival, there’s nothing more important than taking care of your body. After all, at the end of the day, it’s all you have and it’s the only one you’ve got. If SHTF and you’re forced to bug out, you will need all the strength and stamina you can muster to survive. Here are some survival fitness tips to get you started on the right foot this year.
10. Hone your self defense skills.
Knowing how to protect yourself and your family against an attacker is a vital survival skill. Whether with a weapon or with your bear hands, it’s important to learn how to defend yourself should the need ever arise. Here are 7 self defense techniques to work on this year.
We hope you have a great, safe and prosperous new year. Got any survival tips of your own? Share them with fellow readers in the comments!
One of the better photos I’ve seen lately