Having a positive mental attitude is a beneficial tool in surviving the wilderness, but that’s not the only instrument you’ll need to stay alive and survive the harsh conditions of the wild.
If you’re a survival and preparedness enthusiast, you’re already aware of the importance of physical fitness and strength when it comes to surviving the wild.
Let’s have a look at the top five ways that being strong and fit can help you survive and endure the harsh conditions of the wild.
1. You Will Handle the Cold Better
The military has conducted extensive research on the connection between physical fitness and the tolerance of cold.
They’ve found a direct relationship between these two and have discovered the main reason why people who are more physically fit can withstand colder temperatures easier than others.
This is due to the fact that as the lean muscle mass increases, the basal metabolic rate increases as well, which improves the body’s ability to generate more heat.
Regular exercise helps keep the body fit and strong and more capable to face harsher weather conditions and lower temperatures.
Here are some of the benefits associated with exercising in colder weather:
- Improved mood
- Improved heart health and strengthened heart muscle
- Fortified immune system
- Increased endurance
- Sharpened mind and spirit
2. You’ll Have Improved Memory and Mental Toughness
You might be wondering why your memory plays an important role when it comes to survival in the wilderness and how it can be affected by your fitness and strength, so let’s dive right in and go over the connection between your physical fitness, memory and mental preparedness.
We all know that by working on our body, we work on our mind as well. This means that as you get more physically fit and prepared, your mind gets sharper as well.
There have been multiple studies which suggest that regular exercise improves brain function and memory by both direct and indirect means.
Regular exercise affects our brain cells directly, by reducing inflammation, insulin resistance and by improving the health of the brain cells, and indirectly, by reducing stress and improving mood and sleep.
Being mentally tough and prepared is an important skill that will help you survive longer and thrive in tough conditions.
Improved memory and thinking skills will help you make the right decisions in difficult situations, think faster and always stay one step ahead.
3. You’ll Have a Stronger Work Ethic
Having a strong work ethic is an important factor when it comes to survival preparedness. Just like any other skill, a strong work ethic can be built on and improved over time.
Being lazy and always looking for the easy way out can be quite detrimental in everyday life and in any survival scenario.
Fortunately for lazy people, this is something that can be worked on, and improved over time.
The stronger your work ethic is, the better your chances of survival are, and the sooner you’ll be able to adapt to the environment and situation you’re in.
Here are a few tips you can follow if you want to work on yourself and develop a better work ethic:
- Practice punctuality and try to get to places ahead of schedule.
- Cultivate self-discipline and stay focused on one thing at a time. Don’t let your mind wander.
- Don’t postpone your work or your errands and use your time wisely.
- Get proper sleep, nutritious food and take time to relax and recharge.
- Don’t skip your regular exercises.
- Get rid of as many distractions as possible.
4. You’ll be More Productive
Having a strong work ethic and motivation will make you more productive in the wilderness.
But those are not the only two skills you’ll need to stay productive and motivated to keep going.
Strength and physical fitness will help you adapt to changes and make it through the harshest of conditions while still staying productive and on track.
Being productive in the wilderness is an important factor especially if you’re racing against the clock so you can make a shelter, find and prepare food and make fire in the shortest possible amount of time.
5. You’ll Have Increased Mobility and Balance
Being strong and physically fit means having greater stamina, mobility and increased balance.
As you grow stronger, it will take more physical work to tire you up, which will help you endure more and make you a stronger person both physically and emotionally.
Balance and mobility are also important factors when it comes to survival.
Although crucial to survival, balance is a perishable skill. Our muscles weaken overtime and if we don’t work on ourselves and our bodies, we might lose our sense of stability.
By working on our bodies we’re working on our balance, stability and our coordination, which are important survival skills, especially if you find yourself in a hazardous and dangerous environment.
Options for improving strength and fitness
You could start by training at the gym regularly. This requires a (possibly) expensive membership depending on your location. Also, gyms are safe, comfortable places and do not represent nature.
Instead, you could try something like parkour, which will help you stay fit and active outdoors. This discipline has grown in popularity over the years and there are many places you can practice it.
It’s quite an advanced workout, so what about if you are quite unfit and maybe a bit overweight at the moment?
One option is to hire a personal trainer to help you lose a few pounds so that you can start running and taking part in outdoor activities more easily.
Have a look online and in your area for reputable personal trainers. They could be at your local gym or independent trainers. For US residents, check out this site for a list of PTs near you. if you’re in the UK, check out REPs.
If you feel a personal trainer is a bit too expensive, you can try training yourself using YouTube videos or find an online personal training program.
Find what works for you and give it a try. You will never know what’s best until you have tried these options out.