If I had to boil survival down into one job – it’s being a manager. I’ve previously explained how important calorie management can be in a long term wilderness emergency (it’s very important), but now I’d like to expand that concept. When push comes to shove in the great outdoors (or any other survival setting), your job as a survivor may be more simple than you imagine. You are the administrator of your calories, your water and your time. You are your body’s manager! Let me give you some examples.

By collecting plant and animal foods, you are bringing in necessary calories for survival – and by building a shelter from the elements, you are limiting the amount of calories your environment will strip away. By collecting and disinfecting water, and limiting your activity in dry climates – you are managing your body’s internal water supply. And by using some of your time to signal for help or self-rescue, you’re working toward an end to your ordeal. So as a good manager, you should make each choice with calories, water and time factored into the calculation. Is the task worth your time, the calories you’ll burn and the water you’ll sweat out by doing it? If you can answer yes, then go for! And let’s hope the Grim Reaper never shows up when you’re stuck in the backcountry, asking to speak with your manager.

For more philosophy and survival tips, check out MacWelch’s New York Times Bestselling survival books:
Prepare For Anything
Hunting and Gathering Survival Manual
How To Survive Anything

And if that’s not enough, you can:
Follow Tim on Twitter @timmacwelch
Take one of his survival classes at www.advancedsurvivaltraining.com
and check out more of MacWelch’s outdoor skills and survival articles at Outdoor Life Magazine’s survival site, The Survivalist.