Emergency preparedness advice usually starts with the basics, like water, food, and medications.
One group of preppers is now making the case for preparing for something less obvious.
Here's what to know
The discussion started in a Reddit thread on the r/TwoXPreppers forum, where the original poster said an emergency kit should include more than pure survival staples.
They suggested making room for stress-relief items such as books, games, craft supplies, music, and other media that can be used offline.
The original poster, who said they live with depression, ADHD, and anxiety, wrote, "Extreme stress or prolonged stress (trigger stacking) can really tip me into a bad place."
They added, "Remember to prep entertainment for your mental health."
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For OP, the hardest moments can come later in the day. Evenings at home without something to do can push their anxiety higher, and even exercise or a walk does not always stop their mind from drifting.
They said many of these items can be picked up cheaply through thrift stores, garage sales, curbside finds, and other secondhand sources. Their list included books, crafts, board games, cards, music, a Kobo e-reader, podcasts, and shows or movies saved for offline use.
Commenters built on the idea with practical suggestions.
One wrote, "Don't forget to print off instructions for basic card and dice games. You might be without power or internet and find yourself wanting to play Gin or Rummy or Hand & Foot or Bridge or Pinochle or Solitaire or Yahtzee and not remember the rules. Or you may tire of Go Fish and wish you had variety if you don't play cards regularly."
Another added, "I've been organizing my music library and burning them onto CDs! One of my main concerns is not being able to charge my phone and listen to my uploaded music, so I got a battery operated CD player."
More background
During an outage, the challenge is not always limited to getting through the first few hours. Managing the long, boring, stressful stretches that follow is an added trial.
Offline entertainment can be especially helpful because it does not rely on a stable internet connection, and in some cases, it does not depend on rechargeable devices, either. Commenters described including a battery-operated CD player in kits, collecting DVDs, and keeping puzzle books, yarn, and embroidery supplies on hand.
A useful "comfort kit" does not have to involve expensive gear or a massive stockpile. Thrift stores, dollar stores, libraries, and free little libraries can all help people build a low-cost collection over time.
Where can I learn more?
For readers thinking about preparedness in similarly practical terms, there are plenty of things to consider for outages and emergencies.
• Across prepper forums, homeowners are trading budget-friendly emergency prep tips that skip panic buying.
• During hurricane season, families keep power-outage basics on hand before stores empty out.
• Homeowners weighing blackout plans say solar can outlast generators when fuel gets scarce.
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