(Natural News) Living the survivalist lifestyle is a big decision. Choosing to live off the grid entails making big changes, ranging from growing your own food to finding your own water source to downsizing your home for maximum efficiency. It isn’t easy by any means. But with those big changes come even bigger benefits. Becoming a survivalist will do you a whole lot of good in the long run, and here’s how. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com.)

You become physically stronger — If you want to make it as a survivalist, you need to be physically fit for it. Off-the-grid living calls for various tasks that you need to put a lot of elbow grease into. Lifting bug-out bags that weigh several kilograms, transferring water from a stream to a container, trekking for miles to hunt game, digging the ground to create shelter — these are all part and parcel of being a survivalist. And performing these actions constantly will eventually put you in your best shape yet. Growing your own food will have its own benefits too. By doing this, you’re certain of what’s going inside you. No hidden pesticides, no invisible chemicals, none of those substances that typically go into the produce you purchase from the supermarket. So in addition to improving your health on the outside, becoming a survivalist will make you healthier on the inside as well. (Related: You can’t be serious about prepping if you’re not serious about your health.)

— If you want to make it as a survivalist, you need to be physically fit for it. Off-the-grid living calls for various tasks that you need to put a lot of elbow grease into. Lifting bug-out bags that weigh several kilograms, transferring water from a stream to a container, trekking for miles to hunt game, digging the ground to create shelter — these are all part and parcel of being a survivalist. And performing these actions constantly will eventually put you in your best shape yet. Growing your own food will have its own benefits too. By doing this, you’re certain of what’s going inside you. No hidden pesticides, no invisible chemicals, none of those substances that typically go into the produce you purchase from the supermarket. So in addition to improving your health on the outside, becoming a survivalist will make you healthier on the inside as well. (Related: You can’t be serious about prepping if you’re not serious about your health.) You gain mental fortitude — On top of being physically fit, a survivalist needs to be mentally capable as well. How else would you be able to get out of disaster scenarios otherwise? Survivalists need to be able to keep their cool under pressure, make tough decisions in a split second, and adapt and improvise when the need to do so arises. Fail to gain these skills and you’re pretty much doomed to screw the pooch one day. Embody them and you’ve just upped your chances of making it through anything. Although becoming a survivalist won’t automatically make you level-headed and practical, it will if you keep at it.

— On top of being physically fit, a survivalist needs to be mentally capable as well. How else would you be able to get out of disaster scenarios otherwise? Survivalists need to be able to keep their cool under pressure, make tough decisions in a split second, and adapt and improvise when the need to do so arises. Fail to gain these skills and you’re pretty much doomed to screw the pooch one day. Embody them and you’ve just upped your chances of making it through anything. Although becoming a survivalist won’t automatically make you level-headed and practical, it will if you keep at it. You save more — When you live off the grid, monthly bills become a thing of the past. Embracing a self-sustained lifestyle effectively frees you from having to pay for electricity, water, and rent. The money that you used to funnel into these expenses can then be used for necessities like solar panels, construction materials, or vegetable seeds. Not only will you be able to save lots of money, you’ll be able to make better investments as well.

Really now though, what have you got to lose from embracing the survivalist way of life? With society just a hair’s width from collapsing on itself, it’s set to become a necessity in due time. Don’t let yourself get caught with your pants down. Dedicate the time and resources towards becoming a survivalist, but don’t jump into it without making all the required preparations and taking the essential precautions. Like what was mentioned earlier, it isn’t easy becoming a survivalist, so you need to be fully prepared for it. Quitting your job and making a beeline for the woods with nothing but a small backpack won’t cut it. You have to do way more than that if you hope to succeed as a survivalist.

But in the end? Totally worth it. You’ll be sitting pretty and living comfortably with the rest of your fellow survivalists as the world goes down the toilet.

Visit OffGrid.news for more tips, tricks, guides, and lists to help ensure that your journey to becoming a survivalist is a rewarding experience.

Sources include:

DoomsdayMoose.com

TheBugOutBagGuide.com

OffTheGridNews.com