It’s that time of year again when the “to do” lists seem to grow beyond control. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with project lists and get discouraged. Prioritizing your projects can help you get the most important jobs done and leave the non essentials to your spare time. If you’re stumped about where to begin, you can sort your projects into 3 categories to help…
MUST DO:
Some projects just can’t wait. Home repairs come to mind under this category. Most preppers would agree that a solid, safe shelter is an absolute need. If you rely on home grown food for your family, anything to do with raising livestock and crops would also be a must do.
SHOULD DO:
This category will likely be the longest list you make. As an example of a should do project, think of expanding your home food production by planting a fruit orchard. Yes, home grown fruit for preserving is a great idea, but not as important as fixing a leaky roof on your home. Anything that is a great idea, but could wait should be placed here.
NICE TO DO:
This is where fluff projects belong. Expanding your back deck might be high on your wish list, but in the bigger picture, takes much less of a priority than say, expanding food production. This particularly applies to upgrading gear and tools. If you have these items, and they do the job, there is no reason to prioritize upgrades for convenience or neat features.
Although a prioritized list can give you great direction in your projects, it should not be taken as absolute. There will always be judgement calls to make. For example, if you are busy with home repairs and hear of a great deal on some fruit trees or a load of topsoil for a “should do” garden expansion, don’t be afraid to take advantage of it. This idea applies mostly between the “must do” projects and the “should do” ones. There is very little on the “nice to do” list that should carry the clout to delay any other projects on your list. Nice to do projects can usually be left undone without any real consequence to your survival or preparedness plans.
Now, go prioritize your projects and get to work!