Ten Things to Do when the Electricity Goes Out

It happens to everybody at some point. You're sitting there doing whatever it is you do, and then suddenly, you notice a silence around you; and it's darker, or maybe even completely dark. The power has gone out. What do you do? These ten things to do when the electricity goes out can help.

1 - Eat the ice-cream and popsicles in the freezer. Or any other frozen treats you may have been saving for a hot day.

2 - Play a board game. Or a guessing game, or do a puzzle. Play cards. There are a lot of games you can play, even tag, if it's still light outside.

3 - Go out. If the power outage is local, you can get in the car and drive to somewhere that is still lit and enjoy a nice lunch or dinner out. Or you could simply go for a walk, or go visit friends; anything to get you out of the house.

4 - Catch up on chores. It may not be the most fun thing to do, but there are plenty of chores that can get done when the power goes out. Cleaning, dusting, or sorting laundry are just some, there are probably a lot more that are unique to you.

5 - Read. If it's dark and you have candles, try reading. Perhaps start a book, or read a magazine or newspaper. Or you could read to somebody else, say a child made nervous by the absence of light in the house.

6 - Get intimate. Enough said.

7 - Catch up on correspondence. Write a letter, of if you have a laptop, catch up on your e-mail, it'll get sent when the power returns.

8 - Have a barbecue. This is a great idea if you have things in the fridge that might spoil. Invite your neighbors and make a party out of it.

9 - Listen to music. If you've got an Ipod or other battery powered device, this would be the time to make good use of it. Failing that you can always make your own. If you have anyone around that plays an instrument that doesn't require electricity, you're all set. If not, you can always just sing; alone or with others.

10 - Talk. Talking is always a good idea when the power goes out. You can talk to those there in the dark with you, or if your cell phone still works, you can catch up with friends. Also as part of talking you can try storytelling, always a favorite when candlelight is involved. Finally, you can use the downtime to catch up with whatever is going on with others or make plans for the future.

These ten things to do when the electricity goes out can be used by practically anybody that suddenly finds their life interrupted by the absence of electricity. Perhaps now, when the power is still on, you might make a list of things to do, or print this one, for the next time it happens to you. Good luck.