Self-defense gets all the attention. But most personal safety happens long before anyone throws a punch. It happens in the small, boring habits you build into your daily routine. These five habits reduce your risk of being targeted in the first place.
1. Lock Your Doors. Every Time.
This sounds obvious, but I can't tell you how many people leave car doors unlocked while pumping gas, or leave their front door open while grabbing the mail. A locked door is a physical barrier that forces a decision: move on to an easier target or risk making noise.
Specific situations to watch for:
- Lock your car doors as soon as you get in. Before you check your phone, adjust the mirror, or put on your seatbelt.
- Take your keys out of the ignition when you're pumping gas. Lock the doors while you're outside the car.
- Lock your house doors even when you're home.
- Invest in strong locks. A cheap lock on a solid door doesn't help much.
2. Keep Your Phone Charged and Within Reach
Your phone is a safety tool. Treat it like one.
- A charged phone lets you call 911, contact a friend, or send your location to someone in seconds.
- Use location sharing apps with a trusted friend or family member. If something goes wrong, someone already knows where you are.
- Your phone has a flashlight. In low-light situations, that flashlight helps you see your surroundings and signals alertness.
- If you witness something suspicious, a charged phone lets you record video or take photos as evidence.
Keep a car charger in your vehicle and a portable battery in your bag. A dead phone is no help to anyone.
3. Keep Your Car Well-Maintained
A broken-down car on the side of the road is a vulnerability. A flat tire late at night on a deserted road is a situation you want to avoid entirely.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full. An empty tank can leave you stranded in an unsafe location.
- Check your tires regularly. A blowout at the wrong time and place puts you at risk.
- Make sure all your lights work. A car that runs smoothly and has working lights projects preparedness and is less likely to attract unwanted attention.
4. Use the Buddy System
There's real data behind "safety in numbers." An attacker is more hesitant to approach a group than a single person. When you can, bring someone with you.
- Walk with a friend when possible, especially at night.
- Create a network of trusted people who know your plans. Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back.
- Use location-sharing apps so a friend or family member can check on you without calling.
- If something does happen, a buddy can call for help, act as a witness, or provide assistance.
5. Stay in Well-Lit Areas
Attackers prefer darkness. It conceals their identity and their actions. Well-lit areas make criminals more visible and more likely to be seen by witnesses or security cameras.
- Choose well-lit routes, even if they take a little longer.
- Park under lights in parking lots. Walk toward buildings and populated areas.
- If you have to be in low-light conditions, carry a flashlight. Many of our stun flashlights serve double duty as bright everyday-carry lights with self-defense capability built in.
The Common Thread
All five of these habits share the same goal: reduce opportunity. Most threats are opportunistic. By locking your doors, staying charged, maintaining your car, moving with others, and staying in the light, you make yourself a harder target. That's personal safety at its most practical.
Pair these habits with a personal alarm or pepper spray and you've built a layered safety system that covers awareness, prevention, and response.
Lisa Boggs is a black belt in karate, kickboxing instructor, and the founder of Safety Smarts.