10 Ways to Keep Busy After a Hurricane

During the past few years, the area where I live in South Florida has been hit by Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma. All three times, we were without power for a week or more. Of course, the worst part of being without power is no air conditioning in the sweltering Florida heat, but the lack of electricity also means no TV or computer.

Here are the things that I did to keep busy after the storm.

1) Books and magazines

Stock up on plenty of books and magazines. Although most of us enjoy reading as a hobby, it gets boring when it's the only thing to do. So make sure that the books you keep on hand are interesting and stimulating. If you have kids, make sure that they have age appropriate books. Use the time without power to teach the kids that there are other things to do than watch TV and play video games.

2) Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to stay busy. I put a 1000 piece puzzle together during the last hurricane and I really enjoyed myself. It was fun to do something that I hadn't done since I was a kid.

3) Board Games

Board games are nice when it gets dark outside and you can't read or do much else. Light some candles and sit around the table with the family playing a board game.

4) Keep a journal

If you are like me, writing is a part of life, so capture the experiences you are going through before, during, and after the storm on paper. Keep a journal of everything interesting that happens, or just write down how you felt during the whole incident.

5) Crafts

Arts and crafts---any type---are fun for you and your kids. You can do them together and it's a great way to pass the time. Make sure whatever you choose isn't too messy because the lack of electricity can make clean up difficult.

6) Card Games

During the first hurricane I went through three years ago, my husband took out a deck of cards and he taught me how to play Solitaire. I had only played on the computer in the past, so I had no idea how to play with actual cards. I ended up spending hours playing at the kitchen table while the power was out, and I still play every now and then. So don't forget about those old card games. They can offer a lot of entertainment.

7) Crosswords

I enjoy doing crosswords when the power is on, so it wasn't difficult to amuse myself with a crossword with the power off. If you are not a fan of crosswords, this is the perfect opportunity to give them a try. You can do the newspaper crossword or buy a crossword book.

8) Block Party Barbecue

After a while, your food is going to start going bad, so my neighbors all got together and cooked up everything from their refrigerators and freezers on their barbecue grills. It was a lot of fun and we almost forgot that we didn't have any power for a few hours.

9) Organize your photographs

A great way to spend an afternoon is to go through all of your photographs and organize them into an album. If you are like me, then you probably have boxes filled with pictures, so this would be a great time to put them into a photo album or just organize them.

10) Clean out the Closets

If it's really hot you may not want to be cleaning, but if you can bear the heat, this would be a great time to get rid of your clutter. Go through your closets, garage, or any room that could use some clutter control. Box up items and give them to charity. Get your kids involved too. Have them go through their belongings and decide what things they can live without. It's a very productive way to use the time.