Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Life

5 Ways to Be Prepared for a Loss of Electricity

July 25, 2016August 31, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 20 comments
5 Ways to Be Prepared for a Loss of Electricity

Five tips to prepare for losing power in a summer storm. // dreams-etc.com

Losing power: it’s something that I’ve seen people deal with recently and it’s something that I am very familiar with. I’d say that I tend to lose power at least once each summer due to storms (although I haven’t lost power yet this year, knock on wood). And there have been a few times that I’ve been without power for close to a week. It’s always frustrating to be without power, especially for someone who loves to write and read as much as I do. So over the years I’ve picked up a few tips to help make losing power a little less frustrating.

1 // Make sure electronics are fully charged–or close to it–as often as possible.

I’m not very good with this one and it’s always something I think about when a massive storm hits, but make sure that your electronics have as much of a charge as possible. The two big ones for me are my computer and my phone. I write best on a computer, so if the power goes out and my computer needs to be charged soon I’m always frustrated. To avoid this, I always try to make sure my computer is fully charged–or close to it–during the summer months. That way I know that if I lose power I’ll be able to write for hours. The phone is harder to keep charged, but if I’m hanging out at home I try to keep it as charged as possible.

2 // Store a flashlight in an easy-to-find spot.

Yes, I have a flashlight on my phone, but the last thing I want to do once the power goes out is start using up the battery on that when I can easily keep a flashlight on hand for such an occasion. I keep a flashlight in my nightstand so that if the power goes out I know right where to go. Once I have the flashlight I can dig out candles and/or other flashlights.

3 // Take advantage of any opportunity to charge electronics.

I’ve always been able to do this at work, so I always bring my computer, phone and iPad or Kindle so that I can make sure that I go home with everything fully charged. I’m always able to make it through the night with my electronics, which helps keep my evening routine as normal as possible.

4 // Make the experience fun.

It can be so frustrating to have our modern conveniences taken away, so I like to make it fun. There’s nothing better than reading a thriller at night by candlelight, with shadows bouncing on the wall. And writing by candlelight? Maybe I should let me computer battery run out of charge and get a quill. ๐Ÿ™‚

5 // Stop calling the electric company.

This one is also hard. I always want to know what the status is, but if the power is out for a couple of days, it’s because power is out all over the place. They’re aware and calling isn’t going to change anything on their end, but counting up the number of times I’ve called and the power still isn’t on only makes it more frustrating for me. So stop calling (you won’t even get through to a representative) and just do whatever you’re doing to make the experience fun.

At the end of the day, while losing power is frustrating, it’s not the worst thing to live with. The frustration comes from having to change how we live to accommodate the power outage, so having a plan for when the power goes out makes things easier.

(And I feel like I just jinxed myself. Let’s see how long it takes before I experience a power outage.)

What are your tips for losing power?

[Tweet “Five ways to prepare for potentially losing power in a summer storm… and maybe make it fun!”]

Five tips to prepare for losing power in a summer storm. // dreams-etc.com

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

Currently // July 2016
July Ruminations

20 comments

  1. Rebeca Camareno says:
    July 26, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Very helpful! =) Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:48 am

      I’m glad you thought it was helpful! Thanks for stopping by! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. Susannah says:
    July 26, 2016 at 11:51 am

    These are great tips! I hate losing electricity!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:15 am

      I’m glad you found them helpful! ๐Ÿ™‚ And me too!

      Reply
  3. Angela Tolsma says:
    July 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    ohhh we lost power for the first time ever and it was an experience and I am so thankful my laptop was fully charge and we had battery back ups but I definitely need to get a few more supplies for the future!!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:13 am

      It’s so hard, especially when you’re not used to power outages! Hopefully you made it through well. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. alexandra @ my urban family says:
    July 26, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    These are great tips! Whenever I see a storm coming I try to make sure my phone is charged up all the way at least – and that I know where a flashlight is.

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:09 am

      Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. ๐Ÿ™‚ Those are great things to do… and often the first things I check on when I see a storm roll in too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Tiffany says:
    July 26, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    I am the worst for running my phone super low battery and am often totally screwed if this happens. Great tips!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:09 am

      Me too! Whenever a bad storm rolls in I always look at my phone and it’s close to empty.

      Reply
  6. Jessica says:
    July 26, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    I always struggle with calling the power company, it can get so frustrating when the power is out.

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:08 am

      Me too! I always call more than I should. ๐Ÿ™‚ Like you said, it’s just so frustrating.

      Reply
  7. Sheila Jo says:
    July 26, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    Perfect timing for my household! My nephew is visiting, and it’s a running joke that the power always goes out when he is here. My household is pretty good about charging stuff up when a storm is expected, but not as much as a regular habit – good suggestion!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:07 am

      Haha! Hopefully your power didn’t go out this time while your nephew was there! ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  8. Optimistic Existentialist says:
    July 27, 2016 at 5:26 am

    Making the most of it and making it making the experience fun is definitely important! I hope that you have a good Wednesday, my friend ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:06 am

      Yes! I think that’s the biggest thing for me. If I make it fun, it’s much less frustrating. ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks, Keith! I hope you’ve had a great week (or two!) too. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  9. Autumn says:
    July 27, 2016 at 7:03 am

    We have a generator which is comforting for our fridge etc. When we bought our home, we also made sure that we had a gas stove and heating so if the electricity went out we’d at least have that. Great tips!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:05 am

      Yes, the fridge is always something to worry about! It’s great that you have a generator to help with that! ๐Ÿ™‚ And gas stoves are so helpful when it comes to power outages… we have one too, so at least we can use that. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  10. Luna C. Lupus says:
    July 27, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    It’s summer thunderstorm season over here too and these tips are definitely something I’ll keep in mind! I am totally addicted to technology, so power outages (however rare) totally freak me out! Thank you for sharing your tips with us!! ๐Ÿ™‚ I especially love #4 – life is what we make it and so is the time we’re without electricity! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      August 10, 2016 at 12:04 am

      I’m glad you found the tips helpful! I’m addicted to technology too, so it’s always difficult when I have to limit my tech use! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis Come with me to Cafe Ceres in downtown Minneapolis.
A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone ca A low key Sunday: church, pizza with mom, phone call with niece, dogs. What was your Sunday like?
Summer has never been my favorite season so I inte Summer has never been my favorite season so I intentionally try to find those moments that I enjoy. Hereโ€™s one from summer 2023: sitting outside and watching this bird couple care for their babies.
Itโ€™s true. Okay, Mina. Your human needs a hug. Itโ€™s true.

Okay, Mina. Your human needs a hug. And maybe we should consider taking more flattering videos of the two of us. ๐Ÿ˜‚

.
.
.
#dogstagram #dogsofinsta #dogsofig #dogstagram #dogslife #dogsofinstaworld #dogscorner #dogsdaily #dogs_of_instagram #girlsbestfriend #ckcs #doglove #dogsdaily #dogslover #dogsandpals #dogsworld #dogsrule #dogsoninstagram #dogsarefamily
August. August.
July is over and Iโ€™m glad. Iโ€™m ready for summe July is over and Iโ€™m glad. Iโ€™m ready for summer to come to an end. Iโ€™m thankful that you can see Mina throughout the entire videoโ€ฆthere were a few days in July that I wasnโ€™t sure she would be around much longer. Hold your pups tight. ๐Ÿ’™ #onesecondeveryday #onesecond #1secondeveryday #1se #monthinreview #videodiary
A rainy day is a special gift to readers. [Amy Mil A rainy day is a special gift to readers. [Amy Miles] ๐ŸŒง๏ธ

Whatโ€™s your rainy day (or night) read?
Saturday morning. Mimโ€™s Cafe. Saturday morning. Mimโ€™s Cafe.
June 2023. June 2023.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
  • A Week in Idaho
  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (53)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (58)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (225)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | ยฉ 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.