a well-stocked cupboard is self-care!
If you’ve ever opened your pantry and felt a wave of calm wash over you because you know you could feed yourself and a small army for two weeks—congratulations, my friend. You’ve experienced the magic of preparedness self-care. Stocking your shelves isn’t just about food; it’s about peace of mind. It’s proof you’re handling life’s curveballs one can of beans at a time. And if that’s not self-care, then I don’t know what is. (See how all of the 10 Principles of Preparedness interweave with each other?)
Let’s face it: Preparedness gets a bad rap. People picture someone holed up in a bunker wearing tin-foil hats and muttering about aliens while clinging to crates of expired SPAM. (Relax, Jeff, the aliens haven’t been interested since they saw 2020.) But in reality, preparedness is less about bunkers and more about balance. It’s a lifestyle choice—the kind that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together on a Tuesday when the power goes out, or when your kid casually announces, “We need 36 cupcakes for school tomorrow.”
Stocking up doesn’t mean you’re fearful. It means you’re wise enough to know that life happens. And when life does happen, it usually doesn’t knock first—it kicks the door in like a toddler hopped up on candy. Self-care is the practice of making sure you’re okay in the aftermath of those kicks. It’s why we load up on candles, canned goods, and chocolate (because let’s be honest, chocolate is its own preparedness plan).
A Stocked Pantry = Peace of Mind
Think of your pantry as a hug from your future self. “Hey there,” it says. “I got you. Don’t stress about the grocery store lines when a storm rolls in or the sudden recall of your favorite brand of bread. Grab that soup I stashed, toss in some crackers, and call it gourmet survival.”
The same way a clean house feels like hitting a mental reset button, a stocked pantry clears the mental clutter of “What if?” What if the car breaks down? What if the store shelves are empty? What if I don’t want to cook tonight but I still want to eat? (The most pressing question of all.) Having a little extra means you’re not just surviving, you’re thriving—even when things get weird.
Prep Your Mind Like You Prep Your Pantry
This is where the self-care analogy goes full circle. Just like you stock up on essentials for your home, you should stock up on essentials for your mental health. Let’s break it down:
- Canned Goods = Reliable Thoughts: Keep a shelf full of affirmations and positive truths you can pull out when you need them. (Example: “I’ve survived every hard day so far, so I can handle this one too.”)
- Comfort Food = Joyful Habits: What’s your version of mac and cheese for the soul? A walk in nature? Reading a book? Calling a friend who makes you laugh so hard you snort? Make sure you keep plenty of those on hand.
- Emergency Supplies = Coping Tools: Anxiety creeping in? Stress level rising? Have some go-to tools to lean on—deep breathing, journaling, prayer, or a really satisfying ugly cry. (Bonus: Doesn’t take up pantry space.)
being a prepper brings about peace of mind
Small Steps, Big Wins
Here’s the best part—just like preparedness, self-care isn’t about going all-in overnight. You don’t need a year’s worth of quinoa and a mental health retreat in Bali to feel at peace. Start small: add an extra jar of peanut butter to your cart, take 10 minutes a day to recharge, and celebrate the tiny victories. Preparedness is self-care because it’s a quiet investment in yourself. And the return? That priceless feeling of, “I’ve got this.”
So the next time someone raises an eyebrow at your 12 jars of salsa or the way you prioritize quiet mornings with coffee, just smile. They don’t understand you’re not just prepping for storms or snack cravings—you’re prepping for peace. And peace, my friends, is the ultimate self-care flex.
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