How Best To Live Off The Grid

By Jordan Carter

Published 10:33 am

Living Off The Grid

What happened? One moment we had our privacy, we could do embarrassing things without the entire world laughing at us in a matter of minutes, and there was nothing bombarding us with ads for something we don’t even remember searching for. It was cool; it was convenient; it was a novelty. That’s all changed, though, and the novelty’s worn off. Suddenly, we’ve gone viral, and after so many moons of being firmly on the grid, shouting loud and proud with our hands in the air, there’s a whole microcosm of people who are searching for ways how to best live off the grid.

Not that they’re abandoning the modern world, but instead they’re looking for a way that allows them to live in peace. They’ll still have their smartphones, their computers, and email address – disconnecting entirely isn’t (always) possible. But, it does mean they’re taking a step back and taking a break from the rigors of Big City Living.

house in the forest

What Is Living Off The Grid?

There are differing attitudes to what constitutes living off the grid, but the main idea is based around living and thriving in a self-sufficient manner. The grid in question is the electrical grid, but can also apply to gas, water, and similar municipal utilities. You need not rely on the government because you’ve got the means to run all this yourself.

Some people consider living off the grid means you cast off all your earthly possessions and reject modern technology to where you’ve almost gone primitive. This is a small corner of living off the grid, though and mostly, you’ll find people who just want to find a more sustainable way to live without The Man breathing down their neck and telling them how to live their life.

Decide What You Need And What You Don’t

The initial decision to go off the grid is scary. You look around your room and home and don’t think you can part with anything. But whittling down your needs to the most essential is part of what going off the grid means. You must cut expenses, you must get rid of a lot of stuff, but you’ll also realize you didn’t need a lot of it, to begin with.

man in the field

Growing Your Own

If you’ve had secret dreams of being a farmer, living off the grid is a fantastic way to pull out those denim overalls you never thought you’d wear and find more plaid or flannel shirts than anyone could ever need. Growing your own food ensures you eat better and have a trustworthy source of sustenance. You can look at the advancements in agricultural and self-sustaining technology to make your home growing as successful as possible.

Imagination

Part of the fun of living off the grid is using your imagination. You’ll not have a choice, as you must adapt to your new environment, but this is the chance for you to get creative. This will help you find innovative ways to live off the land and make the most of your situation, not just surviving, but thriving.

While you won’t be spending money on utility bills, it’s still nice to have extra income so you can use your skills or surroundings to develop a business, whether it’s an online craft or clothing store, or allowing hiking, hunting, or camping tours of the area. The longer you’re out there, the more you’ll learn, and the more imaginative you’ll become.

house in the wood

Realize You Can’t Go Fully Off The Grid

Sorry to disappoint, but it’s just not viable in today’s world. You can try it, and we’d give big respect for you doing so, but for many people, it’s not possible because of commitments or lack of resources. This doesn’t mean you’re still not doing something awesome, but getting yourself down because you don’t feel you’ve done it properly isn’t going to make your off-gridding successful. Instead, focus on what you’ve done well to get off the grid, and work towards being fully off the grid eventually (if you want).

Remember Who You Are

Just because you’re happy to live away from any discernible kind of civilization doesn’t mean your friends and family will be too thrilled about it. Hopefully, you didn’t just disappear into the night, leaving them no choice but to place Missing posters around town so you’ve kept in touch with them and they know you’re okay.

Remembering who you are is as beneficial for your mental health as it is for your family’s peace of mind. You will experience isolation and sometimes a lot of boredom, so keeping in touch, either by visiting or online communication will ease the loneliness.

man in the wilderness

What To Be Careful Of

Apart from wolves, coyotes, mountain lions, and bears (maybe Bigfoot or Sasquatch, too), who won’t care about you sticking it to everyone who doubted you and who you won’t inspire with monologues of a revolution, you should also be wary that you’re breaking any laws.

It seems ridiculous, but in many parts of the world, living off the grid is actually illegal. Now, this would usually be the time for conspiratorial spinning of why the government cares so much where we are all the time, but we don’t have time.

Instead, we’ll reason that it’s down to bureaucratic excuses that what you’re doing is not ‘to code’, and they have ‘safety concerns’.

You should also know where you’ve chosen to live is a viable location. You don’t want to get caught up in natural disasters or run out of resources, and you also don’t want to cause irreparable damage to the environment. Before casting off your old life, consider where you want to go and make sure it’s possible.

Here’s Not Looking At You, Grid

Living off the grid is a great way to reconnect with yourself while also showing the world you don’t need The Man holding you down. It gives you the chance to recognize there’s more to life than snaps and likes and swipes, and show it is possible to live a simpler, more sustainable life.

Living off the grid isn’t for everybody, but for those who don’t think it’s possible to get away from the stress of the modern world, it’s a more than viable solution, as long as you know what you’re doing.

man on the lake