The coronavirus pandemic took everyone by surprise. Of course, when everyone is busy going about their days, nobody stops to think about these things. Things like a pandemic, terrorist attacks, natural calamities, and so on.

But these do indeed happen and when they do, they catch us off guard. Most people, it seems, are not prepared for emergencies or a sustained period of downtime. They are not prepared mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.

Just look at how some of the largest and most prosperous countries have dealt with the pandemic. There is no doubt that things could have been much, much better and many lives could have been saved.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that we should always be prepared. If you do that, the severity of the problem will have reduced to a great degree even before it hits.

Preparedness - The First Rule of Survival

Of course, you can't take into account every single thing that might happen in the future. If we could do that, there would be no such things as emergencies. However, we know enough based on our history, that we can account for a healthy number of situations and problems.

This is really important, especially if you have a family that depends on you. There are enough free resources available online to help you prepare for different emergencies. And contrary to popular belief, you do have the time to plan ahead.

When things are going good, or at least "normal", that's when you should be planning. The number one mistake that people make is assuming that their current situation will last forever. That's not how life works. It can change in an instant. One second is all it takes for your whole life to be turned on its head.

So, preparedness is of utmost importance. Doing so will make sure you survive and are able to weather the storm, no matter how long it might last. Currently, I am sure millions of people might be wishing they were better prepared.

Remember, it is often the harsh times that make us stronger, that teach us essential lessons and that make us smarter and better human beings. The current situation is harsh but it will be over one day and we will all be better for it.