Let’s Get Prepared! Day 29 – Life Skills for Self-Sufficiency

Day 29 of the Let’s Get Prepared! Challenge has us rounding out our skills lists. We’ve already discussed health and safety, and food and water. Today, we are focusing on how to be resourceful and be handy as you maintain your home. 

Be Resourceful: 

• sewing – repair or create clothes or home goods
• crochet or knit
• launder clothes without a washer or dryer
• make your own cleaning supplies
• hairdressing 
• get to know your neighbors — what are they good at? would you barter services or goods? 
• learn another language that would help you communicate if you traveled 
• tie knots
• make candles
• read the weather 
• navigate in the woods / tracking / use a compass 
• how to read a map 
• waterproof items
• self-defense
• if you are inclined to own a gun, learn safety, proper usage, proper storage, and practice
• create entertainment! Play an instrument, tell stories, paint or draw, or whatever brings you joy 

Be Handy:

• build a shelter
• fix stuff (MacGyver it!)
• use tools properly — both manual tools and electric tools (and always have them charged if you can)
• basic home maintenance – some plumbing, carpentry, roof repair, etc. 
• unfreeze frozen pipes safely
• use, clean and store weapons properly
• properly cut down a tree, chop, stack and store wood
• discover alternative energy (build solar appliances)
• vehicle or bicycle maintenance
• sharpen and use a knife
• make and use alternative light sources (oil, solar)
• learn about safety with animals, protecting from predators, or training animals
• use or install a composting toilet 

Today’s challenge:  

Take an inventory of what you know, and think about how you could expand your skills to include something on the “Be Resourceful” list and something on the “Be Handy” list. The easiest one and the most rewarding one might be “Get to know your neighbors” since you never know what skills they may have! 

Join in the conversation over at the Clever Girl Organizing Challenge Facebook Group to learn from and to teach others as we all take on the Let’s Get Prepared! Challenge! 

Reminder:  Our goal here is to take steps towards improvement.  The content in these posts is designed to inspire thinking, not fear.