Situational awareness is simply being aware of what is going on around you, as the name suggests. Although it seems easy in theory, practice is necessary.
It is a skill that is taught to soldiers and police officers, but it is also crucial for civilians to learn. In a dangerous situation, being aware of a threat even a few seconds before everyone else can keep you and your loved ones safe.
However, it is a skill that can and ought to be honed for purposes aside from safety and personal defense.
Developing situational awareness will make you more aware of what’s going on around you and more present in your daily activities, enabling you to make better decisions in all areas of your life. Situational awareness is simply another word for being focused and present.
This skill is very important for preppers and those who are seeking survival skills. We will explore this in detail later in this post.
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Start Developing Situational Awareness
Many resources on situational awareness claim that it can be developed by simply keeping an eye on your surroundings, as if you are playing a game of developing mnemonic methods, only this time it’s real life.
This definition is acceptable.
Situational awareness is exactly what it sounds like: being aware of what is happening by looking around you.
What specifically are you seeking? How can you tell if you’re putting your attention where it belongs? Are there any actions or indications that a threat is about to occur that you need to be aware of?
Orientation instructs us on what to observe and make sense of our observations so that we can draw useful conclusions.
You must maintain your calm despite the slight heightened state of your senses. If you keep a composed expression on your face, you won’t attract unneeded attention to yourself.
If you look agitated and turn your head frantically while looking around, people will notice you.
Additionally, maintaining your calmness enables you to keep your focus open and as a result, you can learn more about the world around you. According to research, our attention becomes more focused on fewer things at once when we are anxious or stressed. We may overlook crucial details in our surroundings due to our narrow focus.
Put yourself in a good observational position
To develop situational awareness, you must be able to take in as much of your surroundings as you can. It will be more difficult to communicate if you are positioned where there are obstructions.
You might, for instance, be blocked from seeing a bad guy enter a movie theater or restaurant because of something. You also don’t have any eyes in the back of your head, so you can’t see what’s happening behind you.
So, whenever you enter a new environment, put yourself in a position to see as much as possible.
Develop Your Memory and Memorization
Another enjoyable activity that will enhance your situational awareness is to practice memorization. By practicing with a deck of cards or a string of numbers, you can gain this skill.
Increasing your observance alone won’t help you master situational awareness. To make information meaningful and usable, you must first know what you’re looking for before contextualizing it.
Total situational awareness is impossible because we can’t focus on everything at once. The amount of information the human mind can process at once is limited. Where we choose to focus our attention is crucial in the area of personal safety because things happen quickly and seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
Being Aware And Staying Safe
By being aware of your surroundings, you can avoid appearing to be an easy target.
When you’re out and about, be alert. Keep your eyes off of your smartphone. Keep your keys close at hand and keep an eye out for danger when returning to your car late at night.
The less vulnerable you appear, the less likely it is that someone will try to manipulate you.
It is necessary to consciously cultivate situational awareness. You want to reach the stage where doing it automatically comes naturally to you.
You must regularly practice if you want to get there. Start by telling yourself that whenever you enter a new building, you should look for entry/exit points. While at work, the gym, or on a date, start observing people, establishing baselines, and generating potential anomalies.
Once you identify a potential threat, you should start making an action plan for how you would react in that particular circumstance. Be cautious rather than overly vigilant. If you practice this every day, situational awareness will no longer require conscious effort on your part.
15 Specific Steps To Practice
Developing situational awareness is essential for making informed decisions and staying safe in various situations. Here are steps to help you grow in situational awareness:
- Stay Observant: Start by consciously paying attention to your surroundings. Use all your senses to gather information, including what you see, hear, smell, and even feel. Avoid distractions and focus on the present moment.
- Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques can help you stay present and focused. Regular mindfulness meditation can improve your ability to observe without judgment and enhance your situational awareness.
- Stay Informed: Stay updated with current events and news in your local area and around the world. Knowledge of recent developments can help you anticipate potential challenges or risks.
- Scan Your Environment: Continuously scan your environment for changes or anomalies. Look for unusual behaviors, objects out of place, or any signs that don’t fit the norm.
- Use the OODA Loop: The OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop is a decision-making framework used by the military and emergency responders. It emphasizes the importance of rapidly processing information to make effective decisions.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or doesn’t seem right, trust your gut instincts. Our intuition often picks up on subtle cues that our conscious mind might miss.
- Plan Ahead: Before entering a new environment or situation, have a plan. Know what to expect, where exits are, and what actions you would take in case of an emergency.
- Stay Calm Under Pressure: Maintaining composure in high-stress situations is crucial. Practice stress management techniques like controlled breathing to stay calm and think clearly.
- Learn from Experience: Reflect on past experiences and situations where situational awareness played a role. Analyze what went well and what could have been done better to improve your skills.
- Practice Situational Drills: Conduct situational awareness exercises or drills in various settings. Challenge yourself to identify potential threats or opportunities quickly.
- Seek Feedback: Ask for feedback from others who are skilled in situational awareness, such as law enforcement professionals or emergency responders. They can provide valuable insights and advice.
- Stay Physically Fit: Physical fitness can enhance your situational awareness by improving your ability to react quickly and maintain focus in challenging situations.
- Stay Sober: The use of alcohol or drugs impairs situational awareness. Avoid substances that can impair your judgment and perception.
- Use Technology Wisely: While technology can aid in situational awareness, don’t rely solely on it. Maintain awareness even when using navigation apps or other digital tools.
- Continuous Improvement: Situational awareness is a skill that can always be improved. Make it a lifelong practice to enhance your ability to assess and respond to changing situations effectively.
Remember that situational awareness is a skill that grows with practice and deliberate effort. By consistently applying these steps, you can become more adept at recognizing, understanding, and responding to the world around you, promoting your safety and decision-making in crisis and survival situations or even everyday life.
Applying Situational Awareness To Prepping And Survival Situations
Surival crisis situations are full of stress and demand fast decisions. Having awareness that enables you to think clearly in these situations can be the difference between life and death.
Here is a list of some specific areas relating directly to surival and prepping situations:
- Threat Assessment: Situational awareness allows preppers to assess potential threats relevant to their preparedness efforts, such as natural disasters, economic crises, or civil unrest.
- Early Warning: It provides early warning signs, helping preppers detect impending dangers in advance, enabling them to take proactive steps to mitigate risks.
- Strategic Decisions: In prepping scenarios, quick and informed decision-making is essential. Situational awareness empowers preppers to make strategic choices, like when to bug out, fortify their shelter, or ration resources.
- Resource Management: Preppers often maintain stockpiles of vital supplies. Situational awareness guides them in efficiently using resources, making calculated decisions about consumption, and preventing waste.
- Security: It plays a pivotal role in ensuring the security of preppers’ locations or bug-out sites by helping them spot potential threats or intruders, implement security measures, and respond effectively.
- Adaptability: Survival situations are unpredictable and ever-changing. Situational awareness allows preppers to adapt to evolving circumstances, such as shifting weather conditions or supply shortages.
- Effective Communication: In group prepping scenarios, clear communication is crucial. Situational awareness enables preppers to relay pertinent information to team members, coordinate actions, and maintain group cohesion.
- Resource Scouting: In a post-disaster world, preppers may need to scavenge for additional resources. Situational awareness aids in identifying potential sources of food, water, or materials while minimizing risks.
- Conflict Avoidance: Being situationally aware helps preppers avoid unnecessary conflicts or confrontations with others, preserving peace and reducing the likelihood of violence.
- Mental Resilience: Situational awareness fosters mental resilience by keeping preppers alert and focused on their goals, helping them combat stress and maintain a clear mindset.
- Survival Mindset: Developing situational awareness is integral to cultivating a survival mindset among preppers, encouraging proactive, resourceful thinking to enhance their preparedness and resilience.
In summary, situational awareness is paramount for preppers, as it empowers them to assess threats, make informed decisions, manage resources, ensure security, and adapt to dynamic scenarios, ultimately increasing their chances of successful prepping and survival.
Conclusion
In the realm of prepping and survival, situational awareness stands as an indispensable asset.
It serves as the foundation upon which preppers build their readiness, offering the ability to evaluate threats, make timely and informed decisions, and optimize resource utilization.
Whether it’s early detection of dangers, effective security measures, or adapting to ever-changing conditions, situational awareness enhances preparedness efforts in multifaceted ways.
It also fosters mental resilience and promotes a survival mindset, ensuring that preppers remain alert, adaptable, and focused on the ultimate goal of safeguarding themselves and their loved ones in the face of adversity.
Survival is not easy, the more we can work and prepare our minds now in everyday life the better we can surive in crisis time.