From bumper-to-bumper traffic and canceled flights to long lines at the local coffee shop, delays are an inevitable toll we pay throughout our modern lives.
While unexpected disruptions are never ideal, being mentally, emotionally, and physically ready can turn a potential crisis into a minor inconvenience.
In the survival community, prepping usually involves accruing the gear, skills, and knowledge required to withstand extreme environments and severe crises. However, prepping can also take more mundane forms, helping us to navigate day-to-day life more efficiently.
In this guide, we’re going to highlight the pragmatic side of prepping, focusing specifically on life’s unavoidable setbacks. Delays happen. How you react is what counts.
“The 5 P’s: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.”
Redundancy Prevents Avoidable Delays
The best way to manage delays is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There’s a common saying among survivalists: “Two is one, and one is none.” In other words, always have a contingency plan.
What does redundancy look like in daily life? Here are a few examples of how prepping can prevent and mitigate delays:
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Digital Documents
- You rented a car, left the rental agreement at home, and got pulled over. Fortunately, you snapped a photo on your phone at the rental agency. You’re back on the road in a matter of minutes.
Multiple Payment Options
- You stop by a local cafe to grab a quick coffee before work. The credit card machine is down. Fortunately, you always keep a few bills in your wallet or purse. You get to work on time.
Portable Power
- You have an important phone call to take during your commute. Minutes before, you realize your phone’s battery is dead. Fortunately, you have a portable power bank in your glove box. The call goes off without a hitch.
Data Backups
- You’re giving an important presentation in an hour. You woke up to your cat napping on your keyboard, and your documents have disappeared. Fortunately, you make it a habit to save your work as you go. Your presentation is recovered in seconds.
Recurring Payments
- You’re catching the last train home. It’s approaching, and you just arrived at the station. There’s a long line at the kiosk. Fortunately, you’re able to skip it because you set up recurring payments to keep your transit card loaded at all times.
These types of practical prepping aren’t exactly exciting, but they can make a major difference when it comes to staying on track. Life isn’t always predictable. Having backups can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend waiting.
Managing Stress and Reframing Delays
Delays aren’t only problematic because you lose valuable time. Don’t overlook the direct link between stress and health. The stress that accompanies life’s disruptions isn’t only unpleasant; those negative feelings can also manifest as a myriad of different physical health problems.
Part of being prepared for delays is taking steps to manage your mental and emotional health. That way, when delays occur, and there’s nothing you can do, you’re able to stay calm and accept the situation. Take a deep breath. This too shall pass.
Shifting Your Mindset
So, what does emotional and mental prepping look like? The goal is to consistently maintain a positive attitude and a mindset of gratitude. Try to see the bigger picture. Being stuck in traffic for an hour isn’t ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.
Beyond reframing delays as minor inconveniences, daily practices and hobbies that support mental and emotional wellness can help you deal with life’s disruptions.
From sports and yoga to music and poetry, taking care of your mind instills an overarching sense of inner peace. When delays occur, lean into Stoicism – a philosophy that embodies rational thinking, self-discipline, and the acceptance of things beyond your control.
Embracing the Moment
Once you’re able to accept the situation and overcome the stress, you can turn delays into opportunities. It might take a little effort, but once you recognize that there’s nothing you can do, the goal is to make the best of the situation, rather than stewing in anger.
That hour delay on your commute? Use it to listen to an audiobook or podcast you’ve been meaning to check out. That delayed flight? Use the time to make and confirm your travel plans. Look for ways to take advantage of your new free time.
Adopting a new mindset takes time and intention. Don’t expect results overnight! Stick with it, and you should start to notice changes in how you feel and react to delays, as well as all sorts of other less-than-ideal circumstances.
Build a Creature Comfort Kit
Prepping isn’t only for dire emergencies. Putting together a small kit of items for managing delays is an easy and effective way to improve your overall quality of life. Here are some ideas:
- Noise-canceling earbuds (or earplugs)
- Sleep mask
- Face/body wipes
- Travel toothbrush/toothpaste
- Lip balm/chapstick
- Eye drops
- Hand sanitizer
- Portable power bank
- Extra phone charger
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable snacks
- Pain relievers
- Extra medications
- Offline media (on phone or tablet)
- A good book
- Notebook/pen
- Cash
Naturally, what belongs in your kit depends on your lifestyle. For example, if you fly frequently, you could load a laptop with movies and TV shows. Think about delays you’ve experienced in the past. Make a list of relevant items, and build your custom delay management kit.
Start Taking Prep Steps Today
Delays happen. That’s just a fact of life. The good news is that you can drastically reduce the impact they have on your life. Do your future self a favor and start your practical prepping journey today. When the next delay inevitably comes, you’ll be ready.
Author’s Bio:
William W. Petit is a retired United States Air Force Command Pilot and decorated officer, having served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Instructor Pilot. He and his wife currently own and operate LIMA-TANGO Survival, a home-based business that sells top-quality survival gear and complete bespoke survival kits.
