There are some no nonsense, low-cost hands on things that we can do right now and daily to become more prepared in a slow and steady, simple manner. I recommend using Regularly Unavoidable Training Triggers (RUTTs). Getting in a RUTT could save your life.
We all know people that are in a rut. Some people like to smoke their cigarettes and some spend hours a day in front of the television. Some people without even thinking about it pick up a little bit of candy or junk food when standing in line at the grocery store. The truth is that ruts are very easy to get into. Our quality of life and our very survival will depend on the RUTT that we are in. Lets talk specifically about how you can get into a RUTT that affects you physically. Like most people, hitting the gym has never worked for me. First, you pack a bag, then drive to the gym, change, and work out. Someone is inevitably using the equipment you want to use. Then you need to clean up and head home.
What a huge drain of time and energy. I would rather be in a RUTT. Instead of going to the gym, I would rather use quick five minute exercises at many different Triggered intervals during the day. This has the benefit to allow me to relieve stress, mentally switch gears between daily tasks, and allow me to clear my head as I go about my day. Here are a couple of things that I do and the Unavoidable Triggers that initiate the action.
Near the entrance to my home I have an inconspicuous string that is dangling such that the bottom most part is just out of reach for me to jump and smack it. Every time I go in to or out of that door (almost), I jump up attempting to contact the string. The idea is do this often enough such that eventually you get good enough to actually hit it. At that point where I actually hit it, I immediately find something to stand on and trim 1/4 inch off of the string. (wash, rinse, repeat) How high can you jump? Easily 30 attempts a day (approximately 5-10 jumps at each passing of the Trigger) , over a month definitely pushes the 1,000 attempt mark. Could that whole body explosive jumping action benefit you on occasion? Would it come in very handy in a survival situation? I set one up for each of the nieces and nephews at their homes,, and made it a game.
The Regular Unavoidable Training Trigger that initiates this exercise is merely passing through the front door. Get in a RUTT and do it every time. What would be the benefit if you were to place a punching/heavy bag just inside a child’s bed room door, such that they could not enter without giving it a bit of a shove. Would it benefit that child physically to push that bag out of the way 10 times a day for years? Could you do the same thing for your bedroom/ den/ office/ man cave? This exercise is Triggered by entering and exiting the room and is Unavoidable.
What would it do to a child’s (or adults) agility and ankle strength if the middle of their bedroom floor from a young age (It has just always been that way) J had a large section covered by a piece of wood or thick carpet with a random array of tennis ball half’s attached to it. Would agility improve over time? Here the Training Trigger is Unavoidable and is always present when walking in this room. If there was a pull-up bar above the bathroom door. Every time you finish using the bathroom do a pull up or two on the way out. As most people use the bathroom a few times per day, this Regular Training Trigger is Unavoidable.
A 2×4 on the floor (or laying in the garden if the spouse will not tolerate it in the home) makes an excellent balance beam. Get in the habit of always traveling along it when you come to it. When you get to the point where you are doing it without even thinking,,, turn it on edge and screw a couple of supportive “feet” to it. Now walk the narrow edge from then on. It will soon become second nature and brainlessly easy. Have you been able to do this for a while without thinking about it? Place or screw a stable block under one end to create a 1′ incline. The balance beam is right there whenever you approach this area. It is in your way, Unavoidable and it is just easier to play along with this game you have made for yourself. You could even disguise it as decorative landscape edging.
Is there any way that a Tarzan rope could be incorporated into your daily comings and goings? Would you and your kids benefit if the Tarzan rope was the only acceptable way to leave the front porch. If there was that and a balance beam coming up the stairs into the home, kids would come and go using them every time.
A personal hero of mine, J.J. Armes [1], is said to have turned all of the stairs in his home into high traction rubber inclines to benefit the physical abilities of his family. How is that for a Regularly Unavoidable Training Trigger? As a bonus, this would also seriously confuse a burglar and slow down the uninitiated.
Almost as drastic, a couple of well placed boards or commercially purchased climbing hand holds could become the only acceptable way for the kids (big and small) to go upstairs to the bedrooms or to enter their tree house. Although not complete, I am currently working on weaving a stout climbing rope so that at multiple times of the day I can take a moment and climb it as I pass. A regular thick rope is climbable; however, a proper “fast-rope” is much easier on the hands and will result in more frequent use. If you ever find yourself feeling unmotivated to climb the rope, just attach a small sign that reads “Do NOT Climb Rope – By Order of a Large Government Agency.” You will soon find that the urge to climb has returned.
I like to frequently have a look and see what is in the refrigerator. On the main shelf , front and center and sideways, I place the water pitcher. Now, whenever I open the refrigerator, I have a glass ready to fill with water. It is usually the case that after having a drink of water, I am not thinking so much about getting a little snack.
What kinds of things do you Regularly do as you go about your day? To what positive things can you attach a Regularly Unavoidable Training Trigger?
Is there a BB gun trap target on the back wall inside of the wood shed with a BB training pistol standing by such that each and every time you fetch wood you can have a couple of practice shots? Is this proximity to a safe backstop also a good time to practice retrieving your pistol from your concealed carry? Yes, I know, the wood shed is often cold. But is that not the point, to practice in all conditions? What about practicing after you have split a few logs? Does the screen saver on your computer show a different intricate scene or series of objects and when a button is pushed, does it block you from proceeding until you put check marks in the box corresponding to the items that were actually in the scene? Would that help improve your recall and situational awareness. Can you set the level of difficulty? Can others upload expansions and new scenes? (Well, mine certainly cannot.)
Do you without fail play the “situational awareness game” when out in a public setting like a restaurant? It goes like this: Everyone but you closed there eyes, and you ask them three questions about the surroundings. For instance: What color are the drapes? Does the room have fire suppression sprinklers installed? How many exit signs are visible? How many people are wearing hats? The players can answer with a show of fingers and the winner leads the next round. My Trigger for this is all dining out occasions.
When traveling home never travel the same path twice. It is a proven brain stretcher and allows you to familiarize yourself with what is currently going on in the area around you. Attempt to use unconventional paths such as through parking lots and behind shopping centers. This simple exercise could really be a life saver in a bug out situation. It is easy to fall into a habit or a RUTT, why not set yourself up, and create a few that would really benefit you and your family. Just like food preps, slow and steady, simple and stupid, can win this race also.
JWR Adds: One good RUTT is positioning pull-up bars [2]