To err is human is a truism that affects all of us, especially when we are under stress. Avoiding pre SHTF mistakes, however, is critical to reducing the likelihood you will make major mistakes when precision is needed; here are common mistakes survivalist make and how to avoid them.

Having a false sense of security.

Just because you can put some holes in a target downrange doesn’t make you safe when shtf. Having a false sense of security could make you ignore danger that you would have otherwise responded to.

How to Avoid it: Do not underestimate your enemy! No matter how good you are, there are more dangerous and better trained people out there prepared to take what they want without asking.

Ignoring the “boring” prepping areas.

We all know about the fun areas of prepping. Guns and ammo, bug out bags, food stockpiles, etc. However, without things like a steady supply of water or first aid skills, you could be out of the game within hours when shtf.

How to Avoid it: Make a point to spend time on all the critical prepping areas, even if they aren’t fun.

Falling in love with your plan.

If you have a plan, you are at least a few steps ahead of the game already. However, it’s extremely unlikely that your plan is perfect for every disaster. Being unwilling to deviate from your plan could easily get you killed.

How to Avoid It: Have a plan and practice it, but always have a backup plan. When practicing your plan, throw in a curve ball or two that make you improvise and think about what you would do if part of your plan failed.

Buying large amounts of preps at once.

Buying a ton of preps from anywhere all at once is not a great idea, but especially when using a credit card or dealing with companies that are in the governments pocket.

How to Avoid It: Pay with Cash when possible and only do business with companies that respect your privacy. Explore alternate payment methods online with prepper friendly companies.

Trying to do it all.

You will never be completely prepared for every scenario. Trying to do this will only result in burnout and may even make you think about giving up.

How to Avoid It: Focus on what you already know until you become proficient at it.

Avoiding common survivalist mistakes before a SHTF moment is almost as important as avoiding them after the moment arrives.

Awareness is key to avoiding them and to heading them off before they become major obstacles. To review more common mistakes survivalists make, please visit SHTF Plan.