This week I dealt with the one thing many digital enthusiasts fear: an internet outage. For someone living a digital lifestyle, internet access is as important as the electricity powering your lights, or the natural gas heating the room.
While some consider that an extreme comparison between utilities, fact is that 513 million people have had access to the internet for 10+ years. Since then, our methods have changed and we’ve grown to rely on robust services online. We no longer subscribe to newspapers, keep road maps in our glove box, or flip through the yellow pages. We subscribe to our favorite sites, get directions from Google maps, and find businesses with Yelp.
Even though an internet outage may limit what you normally do, I’ve come up with six ways to cope without internet access:
6 ways to cope without internet
1. Improve your Cable Management
Those looking to keep busy during an outage should consider improving their cable management in their entertainment center or home office. It’s a great opportunity to clean up the ever-growing entanglement of cables since you can’t watch Netflix on your Xbox 360 anyways!
2. Rest and relax
Have you been feeling tired and worn out lately? That’s your body telling you that you need to (literally) rest. While your routine may include “unwinding” through an evening video game or leisurely browsing, those activities still exhaust the mind and body. Use the outage to your advantage by getting some extra sleep and free your mind from distractions.
3. Read a book
When is the last time you read a book? For those who need to stay intellectually stimulated during an outage, books are an excellent way to pass the time. Need a recommendation? I’m reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.
4. Exercise
Don’t worry – I’m not trying to sell you on a gym membership, but exercise is good for both the body and the mind. Get out, stretch your legs, and take a long walk around your neighborhood; maybe you’ll thank me later!
5. Explore
There’s a whole world outside waiting to be explored! Step outside of your routine; hit the local park or museum and enjoy other aspects of life that you may not indulge in often. If you have a smart phone with a camera, take pictures of your adventure and share them on Instagram, Flickr, or Facebook!
6. Find free WiFi
There are times when being disconnected is not an option. If your job hunting, missing even one day from applying for jobs could extend your search by weeks or months. There are many places you can visit that offer free WiFi – coffee shops, restaurants, even your local library. Not sure where? Just call ahead and ask if they have free WiFi to save yourself the time traveling between places in your search.
Tip: Pro-rate your bill
If you experience an outage for more than a day, don’t pay for what you didn’t receive! Ask your ISP to pro-rate your bill, crediting you for each day that they were not providing service to you. Doing this not only saves you money, but it keeps the provider accountable for the services they offer.
What are your thoughts?
Have you had to deal with an extended internet outage? What did you do to cope? Share your experiences so others in the community can benefit!
[Image via Creative Commons, TDOMMDAD.]
