Zombie exercise: dealing with isolation

Surviving the zombie apocalypse does not come naturally to many people. It will take the proper mindset and training to ensure at least a week's worth of well-being while the world crumbles around you, and even more of a commitment to endure the entire nightmare--which might last months, years, or a lifetime. However, training is more than simply planning. It is more than mental awareness. To know a zombie and to know how to kill a zombie are basic strategies that anyone can follow. If they make sounds like dying farm animals and / or endlessly moan "Brains... Brains..." then those are zombies, and everyone's capable of a well-placed decapitation given the urgency of the situation.

But what you do before the invasion that will prepare you more than imagining how you'd survive is to really put yourself in the shoes of a survivor.

Today's exercise is: Dealing with Isolation.

The sad truth is you may not find yourself in the company of others when the invasion begins. Imagine being trapped in an elevator. Alone in an office building. Sitting at home while your loved ones are off at school or work. You may not have someone to protect you. To talk to. To hope with. When you find yourself alone during a zombie invasion, you will never feel more alone or small, no matter how many times you listen to this Carl Sagan observation.

To prepare yourself for the daunting aloneness you will undoubtedly feel, seek out isolated sections of busy roads during odd hours. Go there and walk around. Carry a stick with you as a play-weapon. Wear a backpack filled with canned foods (to imitate weight of supplies). Walk around this road specifically when there are no cars driving by. No people on the sidewalks. No birds in the sky or sounds to listen for other than your own shallow breathing and booming heart. This is what it will feel like after the evacuations, after the panic, and after the dust settles from the initial wave of horror. People will underestimate the sensation of complete separation from humanity.

If you do see someone walking around, imagine they were a zombie. Imagine being completely alone for weeks and happening upon a zombie. How would you react? Or if a lonely car does come your way, how can you react to stop the car without being mistaken for a zombie and run over? If you see birds flying, do you follow the direction they were heading? How would you handle this situation if you had a child with you?

Be sure to attempt this exercise at any moment you find yourself walking (or driving, though the level of fear will diminish with transportation) along a quiet empty road. Think to yourself: Where am I going? Am I being aware of my surroundings? Where is the next safe-house where I can get more supplies? The more you prepare yourself for surviving on your own, the better you will acclimate to working with groups who may need a leader as well-prepared as you.

Check in later for another exercises involving proper reactions to zombie spotting.

For more information: Walking Tips , What to Sing While Walking , and How to Walk Faster