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Prepping has become much more common in recent years, and there’s a good reason for that. We’ve all seen how quickly a normal routine can be disrupted by a major storm, power outage, supply shortage, or other unexpected event.
Being prepared can make those situations a lot less stressful. But buying supplies and calling yourself prepared aren’t quite the same thing. You can have shelves full of food and gear and still have major gaps in your plans.
Sometimes the problem is a bad habit that seems harmless. Maybe you keep buying things without keeping track of what you already own. Maybe your emergency bag weighs so much that you can barely carry it. Or perhaps you have plenty of equipment but have never practiced using half of it.
Here are 15 habits worth breaking if you want your preparedness plans to work in real life.
1. Overbuying Without a Plan
Buying whatever catches your eye can leave you with a garage full of supplies but no clear idea of what you actually have.
Before buying more, make an inventory of your food, water, medical supplies, tools, batteries, and other emergency gear. A simple inventory sheet can make it much easier to keep track.
Think about the needs of your household, the emergencies common in your area, and how much storage space you actually have. There’s little value in buying five cases of something you rarely use while forgetting an item your family depends on.
Related: 15 Costly Mistakes Even Experienced Preppers Make
2. Neglecting Skills Training
A shelf full of survival gear doesn’t help much if you have no idea how to use it.
Spend some time learning practical skills such as starting a fire, purifying water, basic first aid, cooking without electricity, and using hand tools. Then practice those skills occasionally so they don’t become something you vaguely remember learning years ago.
Skills take up no space in a closet and don’t need batteries.
3. Ignoring Physical Fitness
You don’t need to become an athlete to be prepared, but being able to move comfortably during an emergency matters.
If you spend most of your time sitting down, suddenly walking several miles while carrying a heavy bag could leave you exhausted or injured.
Regular walking, strength exercises, stretching, and other activities you enjoy can help you stay capable of handling the physical demands that may come with an evacuation or extended emergency.
Related: 14 Common Mistakes That Make Buyers Lose Interest
4. Relying Too Much on Technology
GPS, smartphones, weather apps, online maps, and other technology are incredibly useful—until the battery dies or the network goes down.
Keep some low-tech backups available. A paper map, compass, flashlight, hand tools, printed emergency contacts, and a battery-free way to get information can all be useful.
Technology should be part of your plan, but it shouldn’t be the only part.
5. Forgetting to Rotate Supplies
A stockpile isn’t very helpful if half of it has expired.
Go through your supplies regularly. Move older food toward the front of the pantry and put newer purchases behind it. This first-in, first-out system makes it easier to use things before they go to waste.
Do the same with batteries, hygiene products, first aid supplies, and other items with expiration dates or limited storage lives.
6. Not Practicing Bug-Out Drills
Having an evacuation plan written on paper is a good start. Knowing how that plan works in practice is much better.
Practice leaving your home with your family. Figure out which routes you would take, where you would meet, what you would bring, and what happens if your usual route is blocked.
If you have children, elderly family members, or pets, include them in your planning. A practice run can reveal problems you might never notice while sitting around the kitchen table.
Related: 16 Companion Planting Mistakes You’re Probably Making
7. Storing Water Improperly
Water storage needs more attention than simply filling a few containers and putting them in the garage.
Use containers made for water storage and keep them in a cool location away from direct sunlight and chemicals. Follow the storage and replacement instructions provided by the container manufacturer.
Avoid repurposing containers that weren’t made for long-term water storage. Old milk jugs, for example, can break down and leak.
If you store water for emergencies, also have a way to treat additional water if your supply runs out.
8. Focusing Only on Short-Term Disasters
A 24-hour power outage requires a very different plan from a week-long disruption.
It’s easy to focus on the dramatic but short-lived emergencies and forget about situations where services take much longer to return.
Think about food, water, sanitation, lighting, cooking, communication, and other household needs if normal services are unavailable for several days or longer.
You don’t need to prepare for every imaginable disaster at once. Start with the emergencies most likely to affect your area and build from there.
9. Neglecting Mental Preparedness
Fear and stress can make even simple decisions feel difficult.
You can’t predict exactly how you’ll react during a crisis, but you can become more comfortable with basic emergency procedures through practice. Knowing where your supplies are, having a family communication plan, and rehearsing an evacuation can remove some of the confusion.
Taking care of your normal sleep, exercise, and social connections also matters. Preparedness isn’t just about equipment sitting on a shelf.
10. Overloading Your Bug-Out Bag
A bug-out bag shouldn’t feel like you’re carrying your entire house on your back.
Go through your bag and question every item. Is it something you really need? Does another item already serve the same purpose? Is there a lighter version?
The often-repeated 10% of body weight guideline can be a useful starting point, but there isn’t one perfect weight for everyone. Your fitness, age, health, distance, terrain, and situation all matter.
A bag you can comfortably carry is far more useful than one packed with every gadget you own.
11. Hoarding Supplies Instead of Sharing Knowledge
Preparedness doesn’t have to mean doing everything alone.
Your neighbor might know how to repair engines. Someone else might have first aid training. Another person may know how to grow food or preserve it.
Getting to know the people around you and sharing useful skills can make a community better prepared. You don’t have to know how to do everything yourself.
12. Ignoring Everyday Prepping
You don’t have to wait for a massive disaster to put your preparedness plans to use.
A dead car battery, winter storm, burst pipe, extended power outage, or severe thunderstorm can all put your supplies and skills to work.
Keep a flashlight where you can find it. Know where your home’s water shutoff is. Keep your vehicle maintained. Have some food that doesn’t require refrigeration.
These small habits are often more useful than preparing exclusively for some far-off disaster.
13. Skipping Medical Training
A first aid kit is great, but it doesn’t automatically make you capable of treating an injury.
Take a basic first aid or CPR course if you can. Practice the skills you learn and keep a printed first aid reference with your supplies.
Knowing how to use your bandages, splints, gloves, and other equipment can make the contents of your kit much more useful.
14. Not Accounting for Pets
Pets are part of the family, so they need a place in your emergency plan.
Keep extra food and water for them, along with medications, leashes, carriers, waste bags, and copies of important veterinary information.
Think ahead about where your pets could go if you have to leave home. Some shelters and hotels don’t accept animals, so having a few options figured out ahead of time can save a lot of stress.
And let’s be honest: if you’re planning to evacuate, you’re probably going to want Fido or Fluffy coming with you.
15. Procrastinating
This might be the easiest bad habit to recognize and the hardest one to break.
It’s easy to say you’ll buy the supplies next month, take that first aid class later, or put together the emergency plan when you have more time.
Start with something small instead.
Buy a flashlight. Store some extra water. Check your first aid kit. Write down emergency contacts. Take a basic class. Walk through your evacuation plan with your family.
Preparedness doesn’t have to happen in one weekend. A little work every week can leave you in a much better position than waiting for the perfect time to start.
