Top 10 Things to Do When the Power Goes Out

As a kid, the most exciting thing ever was when the power went out. Without any conventional lights, tv, radios or microwaves, it was exciting to experience a kind of life that we were completely unfamiliar with. The first time it happened, it was quite frightening. However, my parents assured my siblings and me that people had lived for thousands of years without electricity and that we would be fine for one night. Naturally, they did the best they could to soothe and entertain us. So, here's a list of suggestions for some things you can do when the lights go out. Some of these come from my experiences as a young child and some are things I have picked up as an adult.

1) Make smores over a candle.

After you get all your temporary lighting in place: candles, flashlights, hurricane lamps and what not, make a s'mores over a candle. A quicker way to do it is over your gas stove. Of course, these s'mores won't be camp fire quality, but there's nothing quite like the novelty of making a smore to put people at ease; even if it is over a candle.

2) Play cards

Cards by candlelight can be quite entertaining. Mostly because half of the time you can't see what card it is that someone just laid down which makes for some serious card playing errors. Card games are fun enough by daylight, the mystery of shadow makes them even more interesting.

3) Listen to music/dance

Of course, you'll need a juiced up lap top with Itunes or a radio that is battery powered, but dancing around to your favorite tunes in the dark can be the most fun ever. Add a glass of wine for the adults and you've really got a fun time going.

4) Play twister.

Is that a green or a red dot? Hand or foot? Right or left? The classic game of Twister becomes even more interesting in the dark. With kids or adults this game is a sure-fire winner. Of course, this is hoping that you still have the favorite childhood game on hand.

5) Tell ghost stories.

Nothing gets young children more riled up than ghost stories told in the dark, under the covers, with a flashlight creating grotesque facial expressions. Of course, if you're trying to get your kids to bed, this may not be the best entertainment.

6) Go to a movie.

What better excuse to get out of the house than the fact that you have no power? If you're going to go to a movie, be sure to pick a theater that's not too close to your house otherwise they may be having power problems as well.

7) Go to bed early.

Who doesn't need a good full nights sleep? Not having anything to distract you or entertain you could be just the impetus you need to go to bed early (or on time) and get a good eight or nine or ten hours of much needed sleep.

8) Do yoga to the sounds of the night.

There's nothing quite like doing yoga to the sound of raindrops falling on a roof or cicadas chirping away in the night. These sounds of nature should really help you to get out of your head and focus on yoga.

9) Clean.

Seriously. Do you have anything better to do right now? Having no power could give you the perfect time to get some cleaning done that you've been putting off. I wouldn't recommend cleaning out the fridge as you want to keep the food in there as cold as possible until the refridgerator comes back on. But you can still scrub away at that tub.

10) Play a board game.

My favorites are Taboo and Cranium. Of course you can always play a non-board game like charades. You might try Trouble, Sorry, Pictionary, Scattergories. Many of these games can also be customized to fit the needs of young children as well.

Hopefully the next time the power goes out, you'll have an arsenal of ideas to keep yourself and anyone else in your household entertained.