How to Keep Yourself Entertained During a Blackout

There's nothing worse than a blackout, especially if it lasts for a long time. 

Of course, the most important thing to focus on is keeping yourself safe, warm, and fed. You also want to keep on top of the latest information and updates so you know what to expect.

However, you also want to keep yourself entertained. There's rarely much in the way of the Internet during a blackout and your devices have a limited battery life anyway. Even if you have some downloaded films or shows to watch on your tablet, or a portable gaming device like a Nintendo Switch handy, you can't expect it to last forever. Also, you probably want to keep your phone charged and ready for updates and emergencies.

So, how can you keep yourself busy?

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Stock Up on Candles

The first step to making sure that you can keep yourself entertained is to get plenty of light sources. There's not a lot that you can do in the dark. 

The traditional solution is to get plenty of candles. For many people, lighting the house with candles is one of the highlights of a blackout, pun not intended. Tealights are cheap and easy to light, so you can light a room quite nicely. 

However, candles do have their downsides. You should never leave a candle unattended, and keep a sharp eye on any children or animals that could knock a candle. 

If you don't want to risk a fire, you could get some flashlights or lanterns. Ideally, you could get lanterns that recharge in sunlight so you can outlast even long blackouts. It's safer and brighter. 

You can still add a couple of candles for ambience. 

Do a Jigsaw

Sometimes the classic ways to pass the time are still the best ways. A good jigsaw can eat up an entire evening or three, especially if you like more complicated ones. 

Jigsaws aren't just good fun during a blackout, they're also good little puzzles and can keep your mind busy and active. If you've got kids, you can do a simple jigsaw puzzle together. Or if you don't have kids, you can challenge yourself with a complicated and interesting puzzle. 

There's nothing quite as satisfying as finishing a jigsaw puzzle. Just make sure there are no missing pieces, or you'll set yourself up for disappointment. 

Play Card Games

Another simple but fun way to entertain yourself is to play card games. All you need is a set of cards and you're ready to go. 

You can play classic games like poker, blackjack, hearts, or even solitaire if you're playing by yourself.

The more you practice with card games, the better you become, and you'd be surprised at the skills they teach you. As well as learning the games themselves, you learn how to keep track of cards and even how to read other people, especially if you're playing something like poker. 

You can play card games online if you really want to master them, then blindside your family during the next blackout.

Play Board Games

Card games have the benefit of being cheap and simple, because they only require a set of cards or two. But board games can provide a massive amount of fun, and never really get old. 

We're experiencing a bit of a board game renaissance lately, with new and interesting board games and tabletop games being introduced all the time. 

There are games for everyone, whether you're interested in a simple classic board game or something more involved. Tabletop games, especially tabletop rpgs like Dungeons and Dragons can go on for even longer, with sessions and storylines stretching for weeks or even years. 

Read a Book

It's a simple and arguably obvious option, but reading can burn through hours of your time, and none of it is wasted time.

If you like fiction, a good book can immerse you in a great story and even a whole new world. Non fiction can also be interesting and can teach you new skills that will never leave you. 

You can read in the traditional way, but using a kindle can be so helpful during a blackout when you have limited light. Most dedicated reader devices have long battery lives, so you don't need to worry about keeping them charged. Also, while you might need your phone for emergencies, a dedicated reading device isn't good for much else, so it's not the end of the world if it runs out of charge.