Let's make a Survival Skills Checklist!

Why should we bother making Survival Skills Checklist?!

Being a survivor is about luck and preparation in varying measures. While it’s not possible to ensure luck when it comes to not being the victim or an apocalypse, it is possible to prepare in case of suck luck. Or, best case scenario, it’s possible to prepare to a point where the proportion of luck required for survival is significantly reduced.

Movies, TV, Books, Comic Books, and Video Games show a number of characters who display what seems to be an unreasonable skill set in the most necessary of situations. How can an actual, non-designed human who lives, in reality, reduce the amount of luck required and increase their added value in almost any situation? Make a plan and prepare.

Based on (very little) experience, reviewing copious materials (watching Netflix and playing Video Games), and surveying experts (Google search for “list of skills”) here is a Survival Skills Checklist that shouldn’t take a lifetime to learn and the logic to motivate exploring them.

This Survival Skills Checklist will be updated as posts specific to each skill are posted to expand on each topic with resources, insights, and more.

[The list itself is heavily borrowed from the article on Likehack.org 54 Things Everyone Needs To Know How To Do by Jesicka Labud ]

1. You should know how to start a fire without matches.

2. You should know basic survival skills.

3. You should know how to grow your own vegetables.

4. You should know how to swim.

5. You should know how to change a tire.

6. You should know how to jump-start a car.

7. You should know how to think critically and question the status quo.

8. You should know how to perform CPR.

9. You should know how to approach and meet new people.

10. You should know how to lift your own weight.

11. You should know how to remember peoples’ names.

12. You should know how to negotiate.

13. You should know how to detect a lie.

14. You should know how to shut up and listen genuinely.

15. You should know how to tell a good story.

16. You should know how to defend yourself against single and multiple assailants.

17. You should know how to speak at least one or two languages besides English.

18. You should know how to navigate with a map and compass (without a GPS).

19. You should know how to sew.

20. You should know how to travel hack.

21. You should know how to be happy.

22. You should know how to fix a bike flat.

23. You should know how to have a conversation with someone of any age.

24. You should know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle.

25. You should know how to say “I’m sorry” and “I was wrong.”

26. You should know how to ask for help.

27. You should know how the basics of how to repair a car.

28. You should know how to control your temper.

29. You should know how to show gratitude, write a thank you note.

30. You should know how to perform basic first aid.

31. You should know how to give a compliment.

32. You should know the correct way to respond to criticism.

33. You should know how to put together a basic emergency preparedness kit.