After years of trying to get everything done, I realized something important: overwhelm is not a badge of honor.

In this episode, I'm sharing one simple mindset shift that has completely changed the way I plan my week. Instead of making a never-ending to-do list, I create what I call a wish list. It's a small change, but it's helped me feel less overwhelmed, more intentional, and a whole lot more at peace.

We talk about:

• Why busy doesn't always mean better
• The difference between a wish list and a to-do list
• Giving yourself grace in busy seasons of life
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations
• Focusing on your next best thing instead of trying to do it all

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate, I hope this episode encourages you to slow down, release some of the pressure, and remember that your to-do list doesn't define your worth.

Resources:

The planner I use: https://amzn.to/4eI4Ey5

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

I appreciate your support! Some links and products contained in posts and pages here may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through those links I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Any products I mention here, on social media, or in the podcast are products that I would use myself, use for my family, or use on my homestead. I will never give reviews I do not fully believe in or accept products and give false reviews.

What if your food storage pantry functioned like a grocery store?

In this episode, we're talking about layer two of my three-layer food storage system: your home grocery store. This short-term storage layer is made up of the foods your family already eats and uses on a regular basis. The goal isn't to buy a year's worth of random food. It's to intentionally build a working pantry that saves money, reduces waste, and makes everyday life easier.

We talk about:
• What layer two food storage actually is
• Why I think of this layer as my home grocery store
• What foods belong in layer two
• How to determine how much food your family actually needs
• Simple packaging and storage ideas
• How to rotate food from your grocery store into your kitchen
• How this layer can save you money on groceries

If you've ever wondered how to build a food storage system that works for real life, this episode will help you take the next step.

Preparedness doesn't happen overnight. It is slow and steady work, and it adds up faster than you think.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Resources:

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

When we think about food storage, our minds often jump straight to buckets of long-term food and catastrophic emergencies. But in reality, most of the situations we are likely to face will have us reaching for the food already in our kitchen.

In this episode, we're talking about layer one of my three-layer food storage system: your kitchen pantry. This often-overlooked layer is actually your first line of defense in everyday emergencies, from power outages to unexpected life disruptions.

We talk about:
• What layer one food storage actually is
• Why your kitchen pantry is more important than you think
• How much food to keep on hand
• Why your pantry should reflect the way your family really eats
• Simple ways to build a practical, functional kitchen pantry
• How to think about food storage in terms of recipes instead of random foods

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by food storage or wondered where to start, this episode will encourage you to look at your kitchen in a new way. You may already be more prepared than you think.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Resources:

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

My kids ate my food storage.

Well, not all of it, but after several of my adult children moved back home, our household went from three people to seven almost overnight. What happened next gave me a real-life test of my food storage system that I never planned for.

In this episode, I'm sharing what foods disappeared first, what I had too much of, what surprised me, and what changes I'm making as a result. This unexpected pantry experiment taught me a lot about what our family actually uses.

We talk about:
• What ran out first in my layer two pantry
• The foods I had stocked well
• Where my food storage system needs improvement
• Common mistakes that happen when multiple people access food storage
• How food storage needs change during different seasons of life

If you've ever wondered whether your food storage would actually work for your family, this episode offers a practical look at what happened when mine was put to the test.

Sometimes the best way to learn about your food storage is to use it.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

Preparedness doesn't have to be complicated, expensive, or take hours of your time.

In this episode, I'm sharing five simple preparedness tasks you can do this week to help your family become more prepared for everyday emergencies and unexpected disruptions. These are practical, affordable steps that can make a big difference over time.

We talk about:
• Water storage and simple ways to get started
• Keeping ready-to-eat meals in your freezer
• Buying one extra item each grocery trip
• Creating a power outage kit
• Developing an emergency evacuation plan

If you've been wanting to get more prepared but aren't sure where to begin, this episode will give you a handful of easy action steps you can implement right away.

Remember, preparedness doesn't happen all at once. Small steps add up over time, and every step forward counts.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

After a long pause from the podcast, I'm sharing some of the lessons I've learned through one of the hardest seasons of my life.

Life can change in ways we never expected. Sometimes the season we are in requires us to let go of the pressure to do it all and focus on what matters most.

In this episode, I share a simple analogy that has helped me think differently about capacity, expectations, and grace. We talk about why it is okay to say no to good things, how our ability to carry responsibilities changes from season to season, and why focusing on the next best thing can bring more peace than striving to do everything.

I also share a little about the life changes that led to the pause in this podcast and some of the lessons I learned during that time.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or discouraged by everything on your plate, I hope this conversation encourages you to give yourself grace and take one intentional step forward.

Remember, you do not have to do everything. You only need to focus on the next best thing.

If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover This Prepared Life.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

I talk a lot about food storage, but nonfood preps are just as important. Here are over 150 nonfood prep items from a recent post on my Instagram titled If You Use It, Prep It. So get a pen and paper and get ready to take some notes.

Preparedness is nothing more than planning for the things to come, and we each get to decide what that looks like for our families. Maybe that's one extra of the items you use regularly, or maybe that's several months or years worth. The only wrong answer is not to prep at all.

What would you add to the list? Share your responses in the comments! I welcome newcomers to homesteading and preparedness here at TPL. We all started somewhere and had help getting where we are now.

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

View the post If You Use It, Prep It here

I get my buckets here

Luci Solar Lanterns

First Aid Kits use code TPL for 10% off from Refuge Medical

My book list is here Non-Fiction & Fiction

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Today, we are having a conversation with Patrice Lewis of Rural Revolution. Join us as we discuss the importance of community in preparedness and the process of moving a homestead. We covered so many topics in episode 27.

You can find Patrice on her blog http://www.rural-revolution.com/

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO