By your writing goals on paper, something happens. They go from an imaginary target to being real. They go from dreams to things-to-do.
A few weeks ago, I wrote down several survival goals. Some, I never thought I would actually meet but as I started completing them, I saw that they were possible. Combined with determination and drive, I found that writing my goals down helped turn them into reality.
Written Vs Stored
By having your goals written on paper instead of stored in your head means you can refer to that list daily, thus reenforcing those goals and making them easier to do. I carry my list in my pocket and look over it at least once a day. Short term goals are written on Post-It notes and stuck on my refrigerator door and mirror.
Writing down your survival goals makes them harder to forget. Storing goals in back of your mind isn’t very efficient. Stress and day-to-day life make it easy to become distracted and eventually you lose sight of those goals altogether. Making a list is the best way to stay on track and get things done.
Big Enough to Stretch
I’ve set my survival goals high with my main short-term goal being moving to a safer retreat area (or at least one I like better) within the next six months and having a garden started at my new location by the beginning of next growing season.
That will be challenging, but I figure if I work hard enough, I can get it done. And it appears that I’ll meet my goal. I’ve found land in my chosen area and am working out the details with the property owner.
I’m setting similar fitness and survival skill goals, making them real by writing them down then working toward each. My long-term fitness goal is to sprint two miles with a loaded pack.
My skill goals included learning at least one new survival skill per week. Not just learning by reading, but actually doing when possible.
Start Now
The last piece of advice I have for you is to make your list now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not next month. If you haven’t written out tangible goals, figure out what you would like to do within the next month and the next year. Go ahead I’ll wait…
Remember goals can change. If you come to the conclusion that a goal on your list is no longer applicable to your situation, mark it off your list. Is is not written in stone. Look over your list and work on these goals daily. By the way, every survival goal you complete builds confidence leading to completing the bigger ones on your list. It’s a domino effect.
Here Is What I Want You To Do
Start your list here. If you need help defining your survival goals read this post “What Do You Do When You’re Given The Deadline For Teotwawki” for inspiration. Then come back here and share your list with us in the comments below…
{ 15 comments }
My list of goals:
- fence the garden/chicken/shed area to keep the dogs out
- build a greenhouse – have ready for 2011 growing season
- build a potting/storage shed, ditto
- enlarge the garden and build better beds, ditto
- build a pantry in the kitchen by end of October 2010
- reach my fitness goals by October 2011
- build a chicken coop and enclosure and get my first flock by spring 2011
- build a better hive and site it better, ditto
Trust me, you don’t want to see my list of chores and projects that go along with this. : )
It’s an excellent idea to commit goals to paper – kind of makes them more real in a sense…in addition to writing down goals and sharing them with one or more people, there’s a tendency to do better if people have rewards or penalties [per an article on Lifehacker about 'commitment contracts']. Some of the rewards for reaching goals are obvious: the feeling of security with a full larder, and the feeling of satisfaction for a goal met, but I’m sure there are other small rewards people can give themselves, like adding some luxury item to one’s preps for meeting the goal of having enough for 3 or 6 months, or buying a new pair of 501s for a weight loss goal reached.
Another thing that’s useful to remember is to prioritize goals and projects undertaken to increase preparedness. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with a list of ‘stuff I gotta do’. One idea I ran across online:
Make a list of projects in a spreadsheet in one column
In the next column, rank each one in terms of project usefulness – 1 being vital to continued existence through 10 being nice but utterly useless
Third column, rank each project on the basis of achieveability – 1 being I could do it now with no effort at all through to 10 being impossible [I'd personally add financial considerations to this but the author didn't delineate that]
In a 4th column add the rank for usefulness and the one for achievability, then sort the rows according to that score from the lowest numbers to the highest.
Delete the projects you complete and add, compute and re-rank with new projects.
Karen,
Excellent list! Now write it down and look at it everyday. As you complete each mark it off your list. Good luck.
Creekmore looks like none of your readers have any survival goals. HA, HA!
Jim,
I think readers have many goals it just takes time to get a list put together.
Jimmy me boyo, why are you over here causing trouble? Number 1 on my list is to survive your dirty jokes so I can glean the 1 line of important stuff
from the 10 paragraphs of B.S.
thats why i dont go to his sight. absolute filth.
Judith & bctruck,
I don’t think the Jim commenting above is the one you are referring to (Jim Dakin) the email is different.
Well,
1. Put two more camera’s up on incoming area.
2. Till garden area again and enlarge by 5″ x 30 each side.
3. Drop and split one more tree for winter use.
4. Cold pack vension when hunting season gets in.
5. Change chicken coop door.
6. Put hay in coop yard.
That’s all for now, but the list goes on.
There is certainly something about actually writing goals down. I also find that having a deadline and at least a rough way to get there is essential. A goal without a deadline is a wish.
Lately, I’ve been getting distracted with other things that need tending to but after reading this article it has helped remind me to get out the list and keep going.
my List:
1)Successfully raise my chicks without killing them. This is my first attempt at stealth Farming, and I’m a little nervous. If all goes well I will get a few more.
2)Continue to stockpile, but ramp up on more basics such as beans and rice for barter. PS- Ikea sells very sturdy shelving systems for the home, very cheap, for the not-so- handy inclined folk.
3) Design and fabricate blackout panels for all windows in the house. The last thing I need is some one knocking on my doors because one of the kids didnt close the curtains all the way. I have a lightweight wood frame in mind with black canvas panels attached.
3)Continue to purchase smaller trees and Bougainvilla for the hedgerow around my property. Nothing says ‘Ill try and sneak in another yard” like big old thorns. Plus no one needs to know what I have growing anyway.
4)Purchase large quantities of bb’s for the the entire property and spread ‘em out. I plan to cache small parcels of weapons and supplies and dont need the Federales and their metal detectors finding anything conclusive.
5) Purchase more buckets, tarps, duct tape and anything else I can think of, you never have enough.
6) My biggest purchase this year will be having a well sunk on my property after Christmas. Along with an electric pump, I would like a hand pump. Although the water willl be Artesian, letting it stand in an open container overnight gets rid of almost all the sulfar smell. I’ve been drinking it out of the old – timers faucets since I was a kid, no biggy.
6) My last car payment is December. after that the money goes towards acreage within twenty miles of where I am now, enabling a fairly quick commute should I have to bug on foot or return home periodically. I am in suburbia, but very close to rural areas and 7 miles from the highway and major areas of congestion. (i.e. businesses , stores, etc.) From experience during Hurricane Charlie, The relief stations are generally in large parking lots and I fully expect most of my neighbors to go there post shtf. just like they did after the hurricane for water and food. (not a one of them had ANYTHING ).
7) Have the old man finally build the outdoor fireplace/ breadoven for heaven’s sake already. I dont care if the Phillies are in the playoffs or whatever you call the game.
8) And impliment a new resource I read here… Junk Silver. Our county fair is next month and Im making a Beeline for the Nice gentleman with the acres and acres of coins.
That’s my plan for now. Im so happy to find a place that actually focuses on Survivalism and not Politics and Hate speech all the time. Thankyou very much, everyone, for all the wonderful Information.
A good article. But here in Ireland where the banks are all screwed up a lot of the personal loans have a clause that allows the bank to charge a penalty for paying off a loan early.
Now I ask you “How messed up is that???”
Sorry guys, I will try to stick to the subject matter from here on in.
I am not big on lists. If I want something done I do it, my DH does it
or I hire it done. I think on my feet, weigh the pros and cons and go for it .
If you mess aroung with lists out here in the cut throat business i have been in for 31 years you will fall by the wayside. To me they are a waste of time. I know they work for a lot of people and I say go for it. Just not for me.
I think what might be appropriate is an emergency prepardness plan be written, adopted and implemented, in lieu of a goal. The goal is always the same, IMO, that of survivial at first, then to prosper and advance your position, at least to reduce risk of loss of life, limb and property. I’m not advocating advancing to the extent of capitalizing, but rather securing your position. The commercialization and capitalistic ventures might come later, depending on you.
All government offices, agencies, banks, hospitals, and just about all large corporations have emergency prepardness plans for specific and general threats and risks. Maybe we need a personal or family plan. It might be a good idea to make a written guide as to what needs to be done, a check list and directions for each family member, just a thought. What if daddy is at work and the kids just got home from school and mom is at the grocery store when there is a huge natural gas explosion in the main lines of the city gas company, what to do? An Operations plan, a mission statement, what ever you want to call it.
In fact, I have always thought that I would be able to just react in any situation, and I can, but thinking about it, I might forget something, I think I’ll make a written plan and discuss it with the family. Later….
Goals: Organize and pack guns, ammo, food, clothes, and tools. Gather material to build Cabin on lake front property. Talk my dad out of renting out 5 acreas. I don’t want people who think I am crazy on my (dad’s) property. Move out to lake front property buy chickens, goats, and rabbits and propper cages. I don’ like the idea of community. My dad is talking about selling a few arcreas of property which I am not to keen on. I am a bit anti social. I just have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach like with hurricane katrina and I am ready to go and leave behind my house and old life. I just have a few goals to complete first.
Comments on this entry are closed.