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Your brain is the biggest asset you have in any survival situation. That, and the ability to cooperate, kept your ancestors alive in a world filled with dangers. So, how can you stay sharp when resources grow thin?
A long-term survival situation will challenge you and force you to draw upon resources you didn’t know you had. However, the right approach improves your chances of making it out alive.
Employing these six tips may be your best bet to make it through a SHTF scenario.
What Causes Brain Drain During Long-Term Survival Situations?
Few things grab your attention like cold and hunger. Unfortunately, thes e conditions also set into motion a series of physiological changes that enhance your survival — at first. Over time, however, your internal resources can wear thin if you don’t take proactive self-care steps amid the outside chaos.
For example, when danger first appears, your body releases a flood of adrenaline — you feel its rush fading as you narrowly avert that car that almost sideswiped you on the freeway. After this initial blush, cortisol takes over, a stress hormone intended to power you through long-term onslaughts against your bodily system. Cortisol does many things, including altering your immune response and suppressing your digestive system.
However, the levels of every chemical in your body affect every other. Too much cortisol over the long term contributes to high blood pressure, which can damage your brain by increasing your stroke risk. Furthermore, exposure to excessive levels upsets several neurotransmitters. It causes alterations in your brain that affect your memory, thought processes and ability to master new skills quickly — an ability crucial in long-term survival situations.
As time passes, poor thought processes and decision-making can create an even worse mess than what you began with. This negative feedback loop perpetuates unless you take proactive measures to interrupt it, like the following.
6 Tips to Keep Sharp
Taking the following proactive steps in a long-term survival situation keeps your brain sharp and improves your chances of making it out alive.
1. Sip Up
Water is essential to life. One of the first things survivalists tell you if you get lost in the woods is to sip up when needed instead of preserving every last drop. When your brain becomes even slightly dehydrated, it performs 10% to 15% slower. Without that spongy bit between your ears, you stand no chance of making it back to civilization.
If you spend a lot of time in the wild, especially in desert scenarios, be sure to understand water purification methods and where to find the nearest source. Learn how to build a solar still with items you have on hand in case you make that wrong turn at Albuquerque, and there’s nothing but sand and sage as far as the eye can see.
2. Eat for Fuel
Your body requires much more than mere calories to stay alive — otherwise, you could live on a diet of potato chips with no ill effects. You need a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats for optimal health, and multiple vitamins and minerals that only come from plants. However, nutrient-dense greens could become scarce in a SHTF scenario, especially if you lack a garden or greenhouse.
The time to learn what edible treats grow near you is now. Learn to take 10% or less of what’s available to ensure a continued supply. Fortunately, Mother Nature provides a color chart, as various food hues correspond to different nutrient profiles. Complement your greens with brightly colored berries and vivid veggies to vary your intake.
3. Take Supplements
A supplement stash is a worthy addition to any prepper’s kitchen. For example, 92% of American men don’t get enough vitamin D, and your chances of making enough from the sun diminish beyond 37 degrees of latitude.
Supplements can help plug nutritional gaps, but only when taken wisely. For example, many people vomit when taking iron on an empty stomach — enjoy your multi with a meal so you don’t lose it.
4. Meditate
Long-term stress exposure prompts physiological changes in your brain, but so does meditation. It can even counteract some of the age-related changes many accept as a typical part of aging.
You might not have access to guided meditations to help you in a SHTF scenario. Therefore, start practicing sitting in silence now. A minute might seem like an eternity at first, but your focus and concentration will improve with practice.
5. Run Drills
Long-term survival situations can trigger your ostrich reflex — it’s so overwhelming that you want to stick your head in the sand. However, running routine “what if” drills sharpens your skills and improves your reaction time if you encounter a similar situation in reality. While it may seem like a waste of energy to run drills as supplies dwindle, doing so once or twice a day is critical to keeping your brain sharp.
6. Work Puzzles
Your anti-brain-drain work need not all entail physical labor. Some of your best friends in a long-term survival situation are those pen-and-paper puzzle books you can pick up for a buck or two at discount stores.
A deck of cards and a game of solitaire might seem like a time-waster, but it can help you keep your neurons in shape. Older adults who participate in such activities lower their dementia risk while staying sharp.
Staying Sharp in Survival Situations
A long-term survival situation requires all your mental acuity. Unfortunately, it also drains your reserves. The right approach can help you maintain your senses and make wise decisions that avoid making an unpleasant scenario worse, so use these tips to work your neurons and keep your brain sharp no matter what.
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