5 Ways to Fail as a Prepper (And How to Avoid Them)

If you're a perfectionist like me, the thought of failing at anything is nerve-wracking. When it comes to prepping, the idea of not being fully prepared for an emergency can be downright terrifying. It can even stop you from getting started. But here's the good news: while there are common mistakes you can make on your prepping journey, they're easily avoidable.

In this post, we’ll talk about five ways you can "fail" as a prepper—and, more importantly, how to avoid each one. So take a deep breath, and let’s dive into how to make sure you’re ready for whatever life throws your way!

1. Not Knowing What You’re Preparing For

One of the biggest ways to fail as a prepper is to dive in without a clear idea of what you’re preparing for. Most of us start this journey because something happens that makes us realize how fragile our systems are. Maybe it was a storm that knocked out power for days or a cyberattack that disrupted services in your area. Whatever it was, that event planted the seed that got you thinking, “Maybe I need to be more prepared.”

It’s important to stop and reflect on what specifically motivated you to start prepping. Was it the fear of a natural disaster? Concerns about civil unrest? Knowing your "why" allows you to focus on the most likely scenarios that could affect you. From there, you can tailor your prep plan, supplies, and actions to fit your unique situation.

Remember, we’re not all prepping for the same emergencies. Your plan will likely look different from mine, and that’s perfectly fine! You might live in a flood-prone area, while I live in a place where wildfires are a concern. By identifying what you’re preparing for, you can avoid wasting time, energy, and money on things you don’t actually need.

2. Buying Gear You Don’t Need (Or Don’t Know How to Use)

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying gear when you first start prepping. There are endless gadgets and tools out there that promise to be essential for survival. But rushing out to buy gear without understanding its use is a quick way to set yourself up for failure.

Here’s a little secret: You don’t need every piece of fancy gear you see online. Prepping is about making thoughtful choices based on your specific situation. For example, if you live in a warm climate with easy access to water, you probably don’t need a solar shower. On the other hand, if you live in a colder region, a way to heat water without power might be essential.

I’ve made the mistake of buying gear that sounded good in theory but wasn’t really useful for my needs. Trust me, I have gear collecting dust in my garage because I didn’t think things through before purchasing. The lesson here is to focus on what will serve you best based on your circumstances. And don’t forget—you need to know how to use that gear. Owning a piece of equipment is only half the battle!

3. Overcomplicating Your Plan

Prepping can feel overwhelming if you think you need to prepare for every possible disaster. But the reality is, our basic needs as humans are pretty simple: we need food, water, shelter, and the ability to regulate our body temperature. The rest is just details.

When you’re planning for an emergency, don’t overcomplicate things. You don’t need to plan for every doomsday scenario, and you don’t need to stockpile everything you see in prepper guides. Instead, focus on the basics:

• How will you keep warm in winter or cool in summer?

• How will you access, filter, and store water?

• What kind of food will you eat, and how will you store it?

• How will you handle sanitation and basic hygiene?

Once you’ve covered those essentials, you can add a few comfort items to make life a bit more bearable in a crisis. Maybe it’s a journal, a book, or an iPad for reading at night—whatever helps you maintain your mental health during stressful times. Just remember: you don’t need everything. Keep it simple and stick to what’s necessary for your situation.

4. Operating from a Place of Fear

One of the biggest pitfalls in the prepping community is fear. Fear-based thinking can push us into panic mode, causing us to make poor decisions or become paralyzed by indecision. The reality is, fear-mongering is rampant in some corners of the prepper world, and it can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Yes, there are real risks in the world. And yes, some of the catastrophic scenarios you hear about—nuclear war, foreign invasion, etc.—are possible. But are they the most likely emergencies you'll face? Probably not.

In most cases, you're prepping for short-term emergencies: power outages, severe weather, or supply chain disruptions. These are situations you can reasonably prepare for without living in constant fear. Focus on what you can control, and don’t let fear drive your decisions. As I always say, it's about being prepared, not scared.

5. Not Taking Action

The final way you can fail as a prepper is by falling into the trap of endless research without ever taking action. You can watch all the videos, read all the books, and scroll through all the blog posts on prepping, but if you don’t actually do anything with that information, it’s useless.

Prepping doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Start small. Maybe the next time you’re at Costco, you grab an extra case of canned goods. Or perhaps you spend a Saturday practicing how to use that portable water filter you bought. You don’t need to stockpile everything all at once or spend thousands of dollars. Just take small, actionable steps.

The important thing is to make progress. Every step you take, no matter how small, gets you closer to being prepared. And trust me, you’ll feel more confident and less overwhelmed as you start putting your plan into action.

Here’s the good news…you can’t really fail as a prepper!

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that you can’t truly fail at prepping. Yes, you can make mistakes, but each misstep is an opportunity to learn and improve. Did you buy gear you didn’t need? Now you know better. Did you overcomplicate your plan? Simplify it and move on.

The key is to keep taking action, learning as you go, and remembering that progress is more important than perfection. Don’t worry about getting everything right from the start. As long as you’re moving in the right direction, you’re doing a great job.

Let me know one mistake you’ve made on the journey. Let’s learn together!