r/SelfSufficiency

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I recently decided to stop using AI. I used to use AI as a genuine personal assistant. It helped me in writing, my personal random questions or tasks, and even overcoming deep thoughts.

I’ve decided to not use it though because I now understand it to be more dangerous than I had first thought. The reason I turned to it was simply because so many people around me are generally unintelligent or uninterested in my way of thinking. Also because I have a deep want for complete independence. I don’t like to rely on others because i’ve been taught that’s not a great idea. Also others tend to judge me and i’m not very interested in being judged for my opinions and thoughts.

Really, I don’t know what to do. I know now AI is dangerous because how easy it is to rely on it. I can’t even remember what I did before I started using AI. I’ve tried to stop using it only to realize it’s literally everywhere.

I came from poverty so I actually only have had a phone for about 2 years now. I’m saying this to say I’m quite disconnected from social media. Also the rise of AI came very abruptly after I first got a phone.

I think maybe I want to try to talk to god but god won’t answer me. I need help writing scripts, learning the random things I like to get into (playing the guitar and chess at the moment), and dealing with all kinds of other thoughts. I can’t really afford a therapist and I go to a free online school. Plus besides all of that I don’t want to rely on another person.

I guess my question mainly is, how do I answer my own questions and help myself?

One part of self-sufficiency that doesn’t get talked about much is handling slow periods without needing constant distraction.

When there’s no big project or emergency, it’s easy to waste hours scrolling, watching random stuff, or looking for something to entertain you. I’ve been trying to get better at just sitting with that empty space instead of immediately reaching for a distraction.

For me it’s been small things like cleaning, fixing something small, going outside, cooking properly, or learning a basic skill. Nothing intense, just training myself not to fall apart the second things feel boring.

How do you deal with slow or quiet stretches without leaning on distractions the whole time?

I've been thinking a lot lately about the gap between wanting to be more selfreliant and actually taking that first concrete step. It's easy to get overwhelmed looking at the big picture: homesteading, growing all your own food, going offgrid, building your own shelter. The list feels endless and honestly paralyzing sometimes.

But I keep coming back to the idea that most people who got somewhere with selfsufficiency probably started with one small, almost embarrassingly simple skill. Maybe it was baking bread from scratch, fixing a leaky faucet, starting a small herb garden on a windowsill, or learning to preserve food.

For me the turning point was learning to grow a few vegetables in containers on a small balcony. It sounds minor, but something clicked mentally. I stopped feeling like I was entirely dependent on systems outside my control, even just a little.

I'm curious what that first real moment was for others here. What was the skill or habit that shifted your mindset from consumer to someone who could actually provide something for themselves? And looking back, do you think starting small was more effective than trying to plan everything out at once before doing anything?

hello. we are a married couple, 29m and 25f, with a young son (2). We are searching for an off grid homestead within the EU, preferably Croatia.

We would like to find a like minded couple to communicate with and potentially join forces. we would split the cost among us.

You would need to bring at least 15 thousand euros to the table.

Our vision is to be a goat and sheep ranch, likely practicing transhumance/ semi nomadic lifestyle in one of the Mediterranean regions (Dalmatia, Greece, Spain etc).

If you’re vegetarian we respect that but do not expect us to abide by your practice. Same goes for religion, if you’re of one of the Abrahamic sects, do not seek to enforce such beliefs. We are pagan.

The primary goal is healthy food, low cost of living, freedom and active life. Through cooperation we could achieve immense things as combined families.

I live in Yorkshire in the UK and rent, I have a stony garden. I have purchased a few grow bags, compost and have started my own compost bin and worm bin. What foods should I start growing and what else can I do to become as self sufficient as possible? I have a lot of space to work with. And I have a good Woodland access, which has allowed me to forage a few things like nettles for nettle tea.