Imagine yourself in the infinite wilderness, surrounded by trees and woods all around. Nature might seem like a remedy for the mind of those who have never set a foot in the woods. But for those who have, nature can be just one step away from stumbling into a never-coming back journey. Ever bumped your head into a branch out of nowhere, or tripped over a rock and bruised your knees? The secret to getting out of your dilemma lies within “situational awareness”.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS – THE PAIR OF GLASSES YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEED
Let’s keep it simple. Situational awareness is the ability to be aware of whatever’s going on around you. It’s the ability to identify all the elements existing, all the actions being taken in your surroundings, and patch them up into a story which then shows all the interaction in between.
Think of it as wearing a new pair of glasses. It’s when you feel like you can see everything and everything just suddenly makes sense!
To be more specific, situational awareness helps you identify all the advantages you can benefit from, and the disadvantages you can avoid in everyday life. Especially when you’re in the woods. It’s the ability to recognize any potential danger that might occur, look for a safe path, and reduce all the risks you might face. It can be as simple as knowing when the rain is coming and as tricky as keeping safe when being chased by a bear.
3 SIMPLE TIPS TO GET A BOOST FOR YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
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Start looking
Yes, the view can be great and you might want to start a live stream to announce to everyone that you’re having a wonderful time on the way to the hill. But you’d never know if your next step is going to be right at the edge of a cliff. Practice paying attention to the surroundings and know where you’re going. Always make sure you know the way in and also your way out. Navigating the elements such as trees, water streams, bushes, and boulders… can be a great guide when you get lost. It’s almost impossible to find the way back on an unfamiliar trail when night comes.
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Start hearing
Many people like to enjoy their day with a playlist full of motivational soundtracks. That sounds quite amazing when you’re looking forward to reaching the top of a mountain. Yes, pretty amazing until it’s impossible to hear everybody else trying to warn you of something because of the loud music. It’s time to drop your headphones and “look” closely with your ears. Hearing can help you navigate your location and identify threats even from places you can’t see. You don’t have a 360-degree vision but certainly can hear from any direction. Let your hearing be your guidance. Don’t suppress it.
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Start analyzing
Looking and hearing are the inputs for your cognitive systems. They help you recognize the potential danger and identify the advantage. But analyzing brings everything to a new level and helps you with making a plan to deal with the problems and utilize your benefit. It’s when situational awareness becomes useful, as it brings all the pieces of information together to form a bigger picture. Remember the bear chase mentioned before? Having good observational skills can help you find a way out of the situation, or even recognize the bear from the beginning, without having to plan an escape.
So what are you waiting for? Start practicing these simple tips right now is the fastest way to improve your situational awareness. Make it a habit and prepare yourself. The beauty of the wilderness will certainly await those who have prepared.
Read more:
Learn Self-Defense Techniques to Help Keep You Safe: Tips for Women
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