Are you ready to break free from the hectic pace of modern life and embrace the tranquillity of off grid life in the UK? The increasingly popular shift to an off grid lifestyle can be a highly rewarding journey, albeit one with its fair share of work, careful planning, and preparation to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
Whether you’re looking to escape the urban grind or are seeking greater self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship, these 10+ going off grid tips will help you to embark on your new adventure with confidence.
Top Tips For Living Off The Grid
From sitting down to conduct your own research before making any moves, to making sure you’ve selected the ideal location to suit your needs, there are a number of essential tips for living off the grid in the UK. Proper preparation is half the battle for anyone looking to take this exciting step.
A selection of the top tips for living off the grid in the UK, things you should be keeping in mind if you’re inclined to move away from the rat race, include:
Choose the Ideal Location
Selecting the perfect location for your new off grid homestead is crucial. There are a number of important factors to consider, including:
- Access to water sources
- Sunlight exposure for solar panels
- Proximity to essential services and community support
- Soil quality for gardening
While the more remote and picturesque landscape can appear more appealing for many, finding a balance between solitude and accessibility is ideal to help you create a sustainable yet fulfilling and, most importantly, safe life off the grid.
Research Local Regulations
Before you commit and dive headfirst into the lifestyle, it’s important that you take the time to research local regulations and government requirements governing land usage, building permits, etc. in your chosen area.
Gaining an understanding of the legal landscape of your preferred location will do wonders to help you better navigate any possible hurdles and ensure total compliance with local authorities. Staying as informed as possible is essential for a successful transition period.
Invest in Quality Infrastructure
The last thing you want is to invest money into your infrastructure for your new life off the grid, only to need to return to ‘the grid’ after weeks, days, hours, because your equipment is faulty.
Invest in quality when it comes to the infrastructure you’re going to be relying on. This includes the home you intend to live in, as a bog-standard tent is unlikely to do, as well as key energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, etc.
Develop Your Skills
Within the confines of 21st century living, there are very few skills you actually need to live. For the most part, you can skirt by on the basics if you wish, living off of microwave meals has never been easier. However, getting off grid will require a more honed set of diverse skills if you want to live well out there.
Before you set foot into the great outdoors, take the time to learn a number of essential skills that will come in handy down the line. After all, if disaster strikes, it will likely be too late to prepare. Skills you may want to consider learning more of include:
- Food preservation
- Gardening
- Basic carpentry
- Regular upkeep and maintenance of your home
Embrace Adaptability
Just like everyday life, off grid living will never be without its challenges. From unpredictable weather affecting your energy production, to times where resources might be more limited than you would like, preparing yourself to react and pivot on the fly can be very useful.
Stay as flexible as possible in your approach to issues and always be prepared to adjust plans as and when needed. Maintaining a positive mindset and a willingness to learn while doing so can be essential for overcoming obstacles.
Additional Practical Off Grid Tips
There are a number of additional off grid tips that are more practical than those listed above. This advice is catered around concrete things you can go out and do before you start your new life away. This includes starting small before committing, investing in energy-efficiency, practising water conservation, and establishing a clear support network.
Our selection of practical off grid tips to help ensure you start your new life with your best foot forwards include:
- Start Small: The first step you can make when looking to start a new life off grid is to implement the practices gradually. You don’t need to reshape your life overnight. Start with simple changes like reducing your consumption, or growing your own herbs and vegetables.
- Conduct a Trial Run: Before you completely uproot everything and commit your savings, consider doing a trial run. Spend some time living off the grid in a remote location and experience what the realities of the lifestyle look like.
- Invest in Energy-Efficiency: When selecting appliances to use in your off-grid home, prioritise finding the most energy-efficient models possible. This can ensure that your power lasts as long as possible.
- Diversify Energy Sources: Basing your entire life off of one energy source is a surefire way to leave yourself vulnerable. Fluctuations and shortages happen, so diversify your energy sources. Combining different energy sources and purchasing a backup generator can keep you in-power no matter what.
- Practice Conservation: When off the grid, your resources matter. Implement measures that will preserve your food and drink as long as possible. This includes installing low-flow taps and showerheads, collecting rainwater for irrigation; or canning, drying, and fermenting your foods in order to minimise wastage.
- Build Your Network: Finding a supportive network of people with whom you can exchange ideas, share resources, and offer assistance can be vital to ensuring your life off the grid is a long-term success.
- Prepare Backups: In life, it’s always worth trying to prepare for the unexpected. When off grid, this involves investing in backup systems for utilities, installing additional battery storage, water tanks, heating sources, etc.
Stay Informed: A time capsule of an off grid home from the year 2000 would be markedly different from one now. Even a home from only a few years ago would likely look very different. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep informed about any advancements in off-grid technologies and practices that you might look to implement.
Begin Your New Life Today With Expert Insight Behind You
By incorporating just a few of these going off grid tips into your journey, you can build a more resilient, more sustainable lifestyle that perfectly aligns with your core values and aspirations. Remember, off grid living is a learning process, with each step you take, you get one step closer to total self-sufficiency and harmony with the world around you.
The prospect of transitioning to a life off the beaten path is exciting, but it’s understandable to have a few reservations. However, with careful planning and preparation, it can be a hugely rewarding experience.
Additionally, advancements in off grid technologies continue to make this lifestyle more accessible and luxurious than ever before. One of the most pivotal innovations is the conversion of shipping containers into comfortable, secure, sturdy, and environmentally-friendly living spaces.
At Live Off Grid, we are 100% dedicated to making off grid living not only as feasible as possible for our clients, but as comfortable as possible too. Our ethos revolves around providing high-quality, eco-friendly living spaces that seamlessly blend with the natural surroundings while simultaneously offering any and all of the comforts of modern life you could desire.
In embracing the off grid lifestyle, you’re not only stepping away from the rat race; you’re stepping towards a life of freedom, sustainability, and reconnection with nature. With the right mindset, level of preparation, and support bubble, you can turn a quest into the unknown into a path of renewed confidence. Contact a member of the Live Off Grid team today and start your journey with confidence.
