For most folks, the word prepper evokes an image of someone whos got way too much time on their hands at best, and who spends way too much time following conspiracies on the Internet at worst. But while you might not want to fill a backyard bunker with canned food (or, frankly, need to), the truth is that youre almost certainly overdue for a little prepping. In the age of climate-change-fueled wildfires and pandemic lockdowns, you at least need a shelter in place (SIP) kitand maybe a go-bag, too. Trust me, I know that can sound intimidating! But far from making you dwell on scary possibilities, being prepared for the worst can actually free up your mind to enjoy life. By the time you finish reading this, youll know everything you need to know to start preppingand stop worrying.Why everyone should be a little bit of a prepperI understand that you might be a little reluctant to embrace the whole prepper identity right out of the gate. You might be thinking, those preppers are crazy; Im not like that! But these days, preppers come in an assortment of flavors, from gun-toting, cabin- living, former military members, to crunchy homesteaders in Vermont, to suburban parents ready to transform their minivans into go-vehicles at the drop of an apocalyptic hat. Prepping is not just for doomsdayers anymoreits for everyone! Ive discovered that its for me, and I betif you give it a chanceyoull find that its for you, too.The very idea of a prepper being some societal outlier would have been laughable to our ancestors. Ive learned, in my two decades studying how human communities react to stress and even disasters, that prepping used to be built into our cultural practices. What changed? Our modern Western, market-integrated lifestyle puts forth the illusion that we dont need to be prepared. We all drank that collectively comforting Kool-Aid that said there was no need to have supplies on hand in case of an emergencyyou can just go to the store. Nor would you need to consider what youd do in the event of a fire or a floodinsurance will take care of the damage, and surely FEMA or some other government agency will take care of you and your loved ones in the wake of a disaster.But not only is it unwise to depend on institutional power to manage risk on our behalf, it also deprives us of something fundamental to who we are: managing our own individual risk and participating in collective risk management, which are things we have done for as long as weve been human. In other words: humans are good at taking care of each other, and my research shows that we come out of hard times happier and healthier when we do so.Perhaps the most important reason to get prepping is that it can be a fun, meaningful, and empowering way to spend your time. And it can also make your daily life easier! A deep pantry comes in super handy on those hectic weeknights. The paper towels in your car kit might save the day when your nephew has a raging nosebleed in the backseat (I speak from personal experience). And that duct tape in your everyday carry can fix almost anything that might break while youre out, from aging sneakers succumbing to a day in the city to a ripped backpack on a mountain hike.Now that youre on board with embracing your inner prepper, where do you start? How do you actually prepare for the apocalypse?How to prepare for any disaster (even if you cant prepare for every disaster)Like I said before, most of us have no reason to stock up on years worth of food and prepare to go totally off the grid. And even if you end up doing that someday (follow your bliss!) its probably not a realistic starting point. Youll want to begin your foray into disaster prep with something called all-hazards prepping.All-hazards prepping is an approach to emergency preparedness that prioritizes general-purpose preparation. Its about being ready for the most likely disasters in your region. The goal is to make sure you have the things you need to avoid panic if something goes wrong.With all-hazard prepping, youll have time to assess an emergency situation and plan your next steps. Youll also reduce the strain on emergency response teams by being ready to handle your own basic needs.Embracing preppingspecifically all-hazards preppingis one of the key strategies for surviving apocalypses and avoiding falling down a dysfunctional panic hole. With all-hazards prepping, youre also investing in comfort, convenience, and safety in case of more minor or shorter- lived disasters. Think of it as ensuring that your apocalyptic experience will be a more glamp-tastic, deep-pantry party, and less hungry-hungry horribleness. All-hazards prepping is also helpful in being realistic about the risks you face and prepping for them specifically. For example, do you live where wildfires happen, or could? Then you should have a good go-plan (evacuation plan), a go-bag, and a car kit. Are earthquakes a threat where you are? Start with an earthquake kit and a tent in case you need to camp in your yard afterward. You can find lots of disaster-specific suggestions at Ready.gov.Here are the basic items to consider in your SIP kit:A flashlightBatteriesA change of clothesPhone and chargerDuct tapeImportant documentsSafety glassesWhistleMasksPaper and pencilSmall tentFoodWaterWet wipesLocal MapsMedicationSleeping BagCards and other small entertainment optionsHow to prep a go-bagIts great to have your home well set up in case you need to shelter in place, but thats not always an option. Sometimes a catastrophic situation like a hurricane or wildfire means you have to leave your house. Its also possible for an emergency to arise while youre out and about.For these kinds of situations, you need to get your on-the-move preps in order.First, the infamous go-bag. It might sound dramatic, but its actually a basic necessityespecially if you live in areas prone to wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes and other climate disasters.Something is infinitely better than nothing, so grab an old backpack (or any old bag, really) and do three simple things:Step 1: Put a first aid kit in there (even if its just a few Band- Aids and some antibiotic cream in a zip-top bag).Step 2: Put in a handful of matches in something waterproof (a zip-top bag will do for now).Step 3: Whats one thing youd want to have with you in the apocalypse? Maybe its a brightly colored towel or a lightweight wool shirt (pro-tip: wool is the all-purpose material you want during tough times). Maybe you know youll long for playing cards or some little bottles of whiskey. Whatever that one thing is, put it in the bag.It doesnt really matter if you have everything you need yetwhat matters is that you get started. When youre feeling ready for more, think about your own unique vulnerabilities and what items can help cover those. Maybe you get hangry easily, so throw in some protein bars. If you wear glasses, pop an old pair in the bag to serve as a backup.Put those things in your bag and then stow it at the top of your closet or somewhere you can grab it easily. And now youve got a starter go-bag.And if you want to go all out, here are some more things you can put inside:72-hours worth of food (backpacking meals are a great option, but peanut butter and granola bars work, too!)72-hours worth of water (use this calculator to figure out how much you need)A Lifestraw or some other water filtration deviceToilet paperBatteriesWet wipesSafety glassesGood shoesA camping bowlA protective face maskA whistleDuct tapeA change of clothesA lighterA whistleSome small but feel-good treats, like candy or cookiesA hand crank radioAny prescriptions you takeA sleeping bagA small tentWaterproof matchesA flashlightImportant documentsLocal mapsA phone and chargerPaper and pencilCards and other small gamesFor a more exhaustive list of potential itemsand some disaster-specific suggestionsyou can check out the resources at Ready.gov.You should have a go-bag for each member of your family, including for each of your children, if you have them, and older relatives. If you have pets, you should have supplies in your go-bag for them, too.If your kid is big enough to carry a backpack, they should have their own go-bag with the same stuff youd stock for yourself. But for really little ones, you might want to have a special kit in your bag stocked with their supplies, including:72-hour supply of disposable diapers and wipesIf breastfeeding is an option for you, be prepared toit is much safer than bottle feeding during disasters, since you dont have to worry about finding safe water, keeping bottles clean, and tracking down formula. If breastfeeding isnt an option, make sure you have sterilized water and enough formula for 72 hours.23 changes of clothesLots of appropriate food and snacks if your little one is eating solidsWarm blanketsA high-quality carrier that you can wear while also carrying your go-bagSupplies of any medicines, creams, etc., that you or your little one need to be healthy and comfortableA few toys/games to keep everybody sane and entertainedYou could, of course, bring much, much more along with you to keep your little ones happy in the event of an emergency, but there is a trade- off between being agile versus thorough when youre on the move with a very small child. If you have a car, you can also stock a larger kit in your vehiclewhich can help you prepare for road-side emergencies, too.How to stock a car kitI love my car kit. From stemming my nephews gushing nosebleed in the middle of nowhere, Arizona, to doling out Band-Aids to not-so-outdoorsy dates, Im always grateful to know I have almost everything I could ever need in a tight little duffel in the trunk of my car.A car kit can look like a second, slightly bigger go-bag, or it can focus on the sort of emergencies you might encounter while already on the road. Heres whats in mine:GlovesEmergency blanketIce scraperWet wipesSpare tireFoodEmergency triangleJackMasksToilet paperPaper towelsWaterFirst aid kidJumper cablesHand sanitizerWet wipesReflective vestSnow chains (if weather-appropriate)Shovel (ditto)How to prepare for any situation with your everyday carry kitFinally, the most on-the-go prepper tool of them all: the everyday carry (EDC) kit. There are many different types of everyday carry kits, from adventure kits to the stuff that you just happen to carry with you every day.You might be wondering what your purse or laptop bag has to do with prepping. But prepping isnt just about being ready for disasters. Its also about knowing yourself better, and understanding your strengths and vulnerabilities.Each of us has an EDC for urban days. These are the items you put in your pockets and/or purse in the morning before you head out, or the things you (intentionally or unintentionally) leave in your bag day after day.My EDC is multilayered. It starts with my wallet and phonethose are non-negotiable. My next layer for a typical day includes my sunglasses (with case) and my 16-ounce water bottle. Then I have my adventure EDC, which I take with me when Im out of my usual comfort zone, including traveling, hiking, biking, skiing, and climbing. Then theres an extra addition for road trips: a multitool I clip to the outside of my bag, so I remember to take it off if I am getting on a plane (because those babies dont fly).The great thing about these on-the-go preps is that you can tailor them to your specific needs when youre out and about. Do you get flat tires on your bike? Often have car problems?Get hangry? Theres a prep for all that. Here are some popular EDC kit items to get you started:WalletSunglassesSnackPhoneWaterHydrocortisone creamBenadrylIbuprofenPaper and pencilMultitoolMaskHand sanitizerZip tieTissuesWhistleAntibiotic creamLighterBand aidsEmergency blanketBut the point of an EDC kit is that it should hold the things you find useful. The suggestions above are simply items other people have realized they reach for again and again. As you get to know yourself and your own strengths and weaknesses, youll develop your own approach to being a prepper.For example, Im really good at removing splinters and cactus needles, soI have tweezers and a pen light in my EDC. That way I know that Im always prepared to offer up my splinter-removing expertise if someone should need it. I also have a thin wool headband that folds up to almost nothing but will keep my ears warm in a pinch, because I know I become completely nonfunctional if my ears get cold.Getting intimate with a cactus isnt (usually) a full-blown emergency, and neither is getting cranky because its a bit cold out. But this simple act of prepping ensures that Ill be happier and more comfortable than I might otherwise beand that Ive got the tools I need to help others in the ways I already know Im able to.A good EDC balances preparedness with practicality, so it shouldnt weigh you down with every object you might possibly need in a pinch. Thats what car kits (and well-prepared friends!) are for.You might be feeling overwhelmed right now, but remember: starting small is okay. You wont regret taking steps to prep, even if you never end up needing to shelter at home or evacuate from an emergency. The more you prep, the more at ease youll feel with the prospect of disasterand the more at ease you feel, the easier it is to be prepared for anything life might throw at you.Excerpted from A Field Guide to the Apocalypse by Athena Aktipis, copyright 2024 by Athena Aktipis.Used with permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc., a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc.Athena Aktipis is the Director of the Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. She is the author ofThe Cheating Cell: How evolution helps us understand and treat cancer(Princeton University Press, 2020), and is currently on tour for her second book,A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A mostly serious guide to surviving our wild times(Workman, 2024).