Anyone Else Feel Like It's Almost Impossible...

[Lacey]

to buy, gather, learn all the things you need? I just wrote down lists of things I need in different categories in my legal pad and I have several pages written. It's seeming like it is impossible to get everything.

Time, money, storage space, etc. are factors that I am having trouble with. I know that many will tell me that I should do what I can, when I can; and to just keep going. It can seem so overwhelming!

My categories are: Water, Food, Money/Coins, Clothing, Light, Heat/Fire, Cooking, Camping/Outdoor Gear, Toiletries, Medical, Communication, Tools, Weapons, Sanity Savers (games, cards, etc.). I am sure I am forgetting some also. It is amazing to me how much money it would take to get everything I need.

I'm going to keep prepping, but I am just feeling overwhelmed. Please talk me off the ledge. Thanks a lot.

[Knobster]

Confucius said it best, "A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step."

Now I realize you may be at the 5th or 10th mile into this journey but you need to keep taking those steps. Yes, it feels like a daunting (perhaps seemingly impossible) task but with each coin you add, 2-liter water bottle you fill up, 5 pounds of salt you put up, you are that tiny bit more prepared than you were yesterday.

I have a spreadsheet with over a dozen tabs broken down into very similar categories you've mentioned above. I've only been on this train for ~2.5 years and the overwhelming feeling hasn't gone away, but it has diminished a bit. Heck, people on this forum have been prepping for decades and they will tell you that they don't have it all. I imagine most, if not all, never will. My 'List of Lists' has grown almost as fast as I check things off.

You've been posting here for awhile so you have the right mindset. Your eyes are open. You are ahead of 90% of those around you already. Don't worry about being on the ledge - you've been prepping. See that parachute you thought to pack with you?

[Hidden Agenda]

Sure, it can be overwhelming. The task itself, backed by WHY you are doing it can add a lot of stress to your life, whether you realize it or not. The keys are to recognize the issues, size-up what you have vs, what you need and break it down into manageable goals. Do you have two week supply of non perishable food on hand?.....yes...o.k.now let's build it up to a month, then 6 months and so on. Also, "sore what you eat, eat what you store". Among other reasons, this practice will also help reduce "prepping stress".

Take a "prepper's time-out". If you are like me, and most of the preppers I know...it is nearly always on your mind. I don't see that as being obsessive about it...but once you eyes are wide open to what is going on around you, it's tough to go back to sleep (not that you should!). However, EVERYONE needs a a break and to take a day or two to rest, spend time with friends/family or commune with God and.or nature...what ever recharges your batteries.

[Fido]

I remember when I moved out of my parents house when I was 19. I got settled into my new apartment looked around and realized I owned NOTHING! I wondered to myself how I would ever get to the level of comfort my parents were at. Now, 24 years later, I have surpassed that level and then some.
Almost no one enters prepping with the funds available to do what we would all like to do. And if you did, I am betting you would miss some valuable lessons along the way.
It may take a while to get comfortable with your level of prepping, but don't get discouraged. Even if you can't buy something, every piece of knowledge you gain puts you one step closer to your goal.

[610Alpha]

Being Prepared isn't a destination it is a lifestyle. How do you eat an Elephant? 1 bite at a time.

You should feel good that you are planning and stocking up for your family in case something bad happens. If that doesn't make you want to stick out your chest and pull your shoulders back then I don't know what will.

keep going! Take another step we are here with you.

[MustangGal]

It is incredibly overwhelming. I have only been doing this a few months and I know I will never have it all. I am trying to focus on not only the preps, but what things can I learn in order to create sustainability. Knowledge doesn't take up much room, just your brain and a binder.

[1Admin]

I think this is one of the drawbacks of the "analytical approach", the Happy Meal "list of lists" type stuff.

Lists have their place, without a doubt and as I've stated before, YOU should make our your own list, thinking through every item, every need, each one's logistics train, etc. If for nothing else for the MENTAL EXERCISE that gets your mind in the right place.

A lot of people look at it like this- "Water Category"- bought a filter, check that off, I'm "done" with water. Started? Yes! Done? No.

However when we are earlier on in this and look at it via a "what do I need to BUY" approach, then yes it's quite overwhelming. I've been doing this 2 1/2 decades and I'm still overwhelmed in that regard.

Prioritize and take small bites- "how do you eat an elephant?"

The problem is, contrary to popular "prepper" belief, your not going to "buy" your way into real survival. It takes a lot more than that. This is also where the Happy Meal "list of lists" approach fails.

If I never go out and train, I never find out the rifle I just read "reviews" about it is a total POS. Then it jams on me during a fight and boom I'm dead. Maybe that means the death of my wife and family also.

So understand that lists are just to get you in the general direction.

Back way away from the ledge, leave room for the stampeding sheeple, join us back over here sipping tea watching the sheep parade off the cliff ;)

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Back away from the edge. If you didn't feel somewhat overwhelmed, then you would be just another sheeple as you wouldn't have your eyes open and seeing what is happening. Like others have said, keep taking the little steps and you will continue to feel better. Look at it this way, each item you buy/store, each skill you learn, you will be that much closer to your goal....but more importantly you will be MUCH further ahead of the sheeple that aren't preparing.

[610Alpha]

Don't forget to breathe while looking at your lists :) Have fun in learning how to be self sufficient. Lifetime learner is your new hobby.

Like 1Admin said step back have a glass of sweetened tea with the rest of us. 1Admin has made that excellent point of running through the mental exercises.

[claymore]

If you're like me you have to jusify every dollar so its tough to buy all the things you think you need. "Do what you can as you can" someone said awhile back. Guess thats my point; at least you're doing.

[1Admin]

Rome was not built in a day.

It took me 2 1/2 decades to get to where we are. You don't have to be "rich" to do it, you just need to stick with it CONSISTENTLY. The stuff is NOT going to hit the fan tomorrow. But bad times happen at some point in EVERYONE'S life. And of course if we believe the Book, their are a lot of bad times coming, whether in our lifetimes or not, we don't know.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

When i share those weekly prep e-mails with you it's to show the small things I try to accomplish. Most are not major purchases nor are they stored in a fancy manner. I work on different catagories each week as I see needs. Small things add up quickly. Skill building, reading etc cost nothing. Stay small, share your experiences and you will see how much better you do feel about things.

[Rmplstlskn]

Yep, take small steps forward and don't let set-backs turn into failures... That is what I try to do...

Just had to re-learn that one a last week when a freak storm with very gusty, high winds blew through and pushed over and flattened all my corn stalks. I was major bummed and wanted to give up gardening, wondering how humanity made it this far... But after my pity party, I got up and tried to salvage the crops from failure... I cut down branches to acts as a brace pole and tied back up vertical every single corn stalk... I was not thinking they would survive, but I had to try. Thanks be to YHWH, it looks like the corn has recovered and is continuing to grow and I am now seeing some ears come out. I guess I got to them in time... And I once again learned, "NEVER GIVE UP!"

Rmpl

[Lacey]

Thanks everyone. And Matt, I really appreciate the emails.

This forum and those emails have kept me going, inspired me, validated that I'm not "being paranoid", and encouraged me. I need that. I was just watching YouTube and reading stuff that just made it very clear that I am very under-prepped (that's not even a word, is it?).

Thank you all again. I will keep focusing on doing what I can, and try not to have to ask for another kick in the rear.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I'm not "being paranoid", and encouraged me.

Whats wrong with paranoid? Everyone thinks i'm paranoid but i still get the "I'm coming to ur house" spill or "can you come over and help me get a generator/supplies etc cause I don't know nothing" spill. Mainstream is what got us where we are today, smackdab in the middle of the hurt locker. I don't mess with no one, hurt no one or srceam at people on the corner so paranoid aint all bad. Kept me alive a few times in fact