With power cuts being a regular guest in our homes, schools closed and the festive season fast approaching, how will you lighten up the mood in your home during load-shedding?
Here are some tips to avoid dampening your festive mood with power outages:
Go for a hike: There are more ways to bond with your loved ones than just watching TV. Hiking isn’t health beneficiary only; it will also allow you to bond with those close to you, and hiking allows a change of scenery that will refresh the mind.
By hiking with others, you allow true interaction to take place with little to no disturbances. Hiking is about trying something different and a good method to rejuvenate, it’s not necessarily about exercise or weight loss per se, but more about becoming one with nature with an outdoor activity at your own pace.
Bucket list: Remember that closet you’ve always wanted to clear, but had no time all year long? Or that new hobby you wanted to learn, but never did?
What about that book you have been meaning to start reading, but something always came up? Well, now is the time to start, with just a pen and paper you can jot down the list of things you have been meaning to do, but never got the chance to.
The bucket list can serve as a reminder to yourself to finally do the things you want. While the lights are out, you are afforded the time to tick off items on your bucket list like spring cleaning, if you may, moving things around the house, clearing out the garage, and learning how to knit.
You can plant new seeds or flowers in the garden, read a book or even meditate. All you need is a light source like a powerful torch or rechargeable light placed in the area you are working on.
Bond over a fire brazier: In the Nguni language, they have what is called ‘Imbawula’, a fireplace made from an old drum that has holes cut around it to allow breathing space for the fire. It can be used to braai, cook, or simply warm up. In English, it’s called a “Bola”.
It is an icon and a classic man/homemade fireplace. You can always teach the young ones how to make and use it safely, it is cost-effective too. But most importantly here are some tips and tricks to lighten up during rolling blackouts:
Invest in the right equipment: Good old fashion method of candles and matches. Ensure you have restocked your candles and matches this festive season as well as their supporting materials.
UPS: Uninterruptible power supplies are powerful units that can be plugged directly into your devices and electrical systems. They are suitable for homes and businesses that need a constant power supply.
Plan for offline work: Shifts between the load-shedding stages have made it almost impossible to work. However, it is vital to monitor your load-shedding schedule regularly to have enough time to prepare prior.
You can pick and choose any of the tips available at your disposal to stay busy while the lights are out, or simply use them to spend more quality time with your loved ones.
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