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Quick Answer: In order to survive the wilderness on Survivor, there are a few physical skills you should acquire: fire-building is crucial, as is learning to subsist on less food. Achieve pre-island fitness and brush up on your problem-solving abilities. Ultimately, the most useful tool in your arsenal is the mind-numbing 32 seasons of content out there for you to comb through. Be a student of the game, and you might just be closer to one million dollars.

So you want to be on Survivor (2000 - ), huh? It sounds like a fun idea, doesn’t it? After all, you get to take a break from the world, hang around other generally attractive people in their bathing suits all day and, if you’re lucky, walk away with $1 million when all is said and done. Piece of cake, right?

If only it were that simple. Jokes and preconceptions about reality TV aside, Survivor is a tough game designed to test people mentally, physically and emotionally. So what kind of training should you go through before setting foot on that beach?

Fire-Making

There is a saying in Survivor: “In this game, fire represents life, and when it is gone, so are you.” Without a doubt, the single most important skill you should learn before coming onto the game is how to make fire with flint. Bonus points if you also learn how to make it using eyeglasses or wood. If you can make fire, you will establish yourself as a provider for your tribe and will most likely make it through the first few rounds of voting. No one wants to risk voting off the one person who can ensure they stay warm at night and that their rice and water is boiled properly. This skill may also come in handy if you are involved in a tie at Tribal Council. Ties are settled through fire-making. If you can’t do this, you can be sure to face a premature (and embarrassing) exit.

Fasting

Food is scarce on Survivor with contestants generally eating one small meal of rice and beans per day. In the weeks leading up to your departure, it could be beneficial to slowly wean yourself off of more indulgent meals and learn to cope with less. No one likes a hangry tribemate, so get it out of your system ahead of time.

Building Core Strength

Sure, big muscles make many challenges on Survivor easier, but showy muscles can also make you a target for elimination. They also add extra weight to your physique that won’t help your endurance during the Individual Immunity stage. Take advantage now and build core strength before you go. It’s less cumbersome than bulky muscles and will serve you well.

Puzzles

Puzzles crop up at almost every challenge, so it’s crucial to work on your problem-solving abilities. Watch old seasons of the show to see which types they use most often. Find some puzzle games on the Internet and get into a daily routine of practice. Being a good problem-solver is another surefire way to endear yourself to your tribe. But make sure you have the skills to back it up; saying you are good at them and failing to deliver could give your tribe a reason to get rid of you. Know what your puzzle strengths are before you commit.

Swimming & Underwater Diving

Given that you will be living on an island for 39 days, this skillset seems obvious, but you wouldn’t believe the number of Survivor contestants who arrive on the island without knowing how to swim. Not only will underwater diving will come in handy in challenges, but it’s also an opportunity to establish yourself as the tribe’s fishing guru.

Emotional Intelligence Training

To succeed on Survivor, you’ll need to know how to make positive first impressions on people. To do this, read books like Dale Carnegie’s How to Make Friends and Influence People. Ask your friends and family for input on any annoying habits you have so you can learn to eliminate or minimize them ahead of the game. Make sure their feedback is brutally honest. Being personable and articulate is always a good way to win over your tribe and develop a positive relationship with the camera crew. Maintain a level head and a sense of humor about yourself, and you will go further than most.

Watch the Show!

There are a mind-numbing 32 seasons of content out there for you to comb through. Watch a mixture of old seasons and new ones to learn which strategies work and which have become redundant over time. Survivor also has some contestants who have appeared over multiple seasons. There is a reason for that. Pick one or two and watch how they have evolved. A good player to learn from is John Cochran. When he first appeared on the show, he did horribly. A few years later, Cochran went on to win it all.

Also study the Hidden Immunity Idol and where the crew usually hides it. Learn how to pull people aside for one-on-ones, how to slip away on your own and how to think on your feet. Be a student of the game!

To sum up, Survivor is a complex game that’s not for the faint of heart. But going into it prepared might just give you a leg up over your competitors. Anyway, what’s a little training and studying if it brings you one step closer to a million dollars?