10 Ways to Stay Entertained When Living Without Internet at Home
Are you about to get on a long plane ride? Is there a scheduled power outage for maintenance today? Is your ISP down?
Regardless of the situation, living without the Internet at home is no joke. A lot of people rely on the Internet for work, school and leisure. It is part of human culture now.
The good news is there are a ton of things to do even when you are offline. We have 10 of them listed below for you to discover what you can do to stay entertained:
1. Read a novel
The best thing to do when living without the Internet at home is to pick up a book. It could be a physical book or an eBook on your phone or Kindle. With the right book, you could travel to distant lands and experience all sorts of adventures. You could read about the haunting world of Brahm Stoker’s Dracula, the cases of Sherlock Holmes or visit Middle-Earth in The Lord of the Rings.
Not a fan of fiction? Start reading some great books about the best movies, how to get better at photography or world history.
2. Practice cooking
Looking for things to do without the Internet? Why not try cooking?
If you aren’t used to moving around the kitchen, this is a good chance to get started. Look for a cookbook and start trying some recipes. It is okay if the dishes don’t come out perfectly as long as you have fun and learn from your attempts.
3. Bust out the board games
Still a little bored? It is time to take out some board games.
Sure, you can get by with the classics like Monopoly and Scrabble, but why not prepare for offline days with some more elaborate board games? Try out games like the zombie-survival game Dead of Winter or the loot-hoarding game of Munchkin.
Add in some card games too, like Cards Against Humanity. This game focuses on dark humor and is an excellent ice breaker too. You can also try Dixit, which emphasizes creative imagery.
4. Dungeons And Dragons
Why stop with board games and cards when you go on an epic adventure with your friends or family? Dungeons and Dragons, or other roleplaying tabletop games of its ilk, focus on improv storytelling and dice rolls. Unlike most games, D&D isn’t a competitive game. The players have to work together to save the day. You can also keep the story going for more than one session, hosting more games each week or month to keep the adventure on.
It is like playing a video game where your only limitations are your imagination. It is such a good game that it even helps kids deal with social anxiety.
5. Download videos ahead Of time
Found an interesting video online? Why not download it first so you can watch it when you go somewhere without an Internet connection? Learn to download video from Twitter, YouTube or Facebook so you have something to check out while on the plane or when there is no electricity and Internet.
If you have the time, prepare by downloading a few episodes of your favorite show or movies. Netflix, for example, gives the option to download movies for offline viewing, but this is only for a limited period. You can do the same on the YouTube app, and this lasts only for 29 days.
You will need to prepare for this. Make sure you have enough space on your phone, tablet or computer and you have the right tools or apps to keep the videos you want.
6. Listen to some podcasts
Videos aren’t the only entertaining medium you can download ahead of time. For people into podcasts, you should consider downloading the latest episodes so you can listen to them when the Internet goes down.
Podcasts and audiobooks are easier and quicker to download or save offline since they don’t have massive file sizes.
7. Offline video games
Most video games these days require an online connection. You can’t play Fortnite, Apex Legends or Overwatch without the Internet. However, there are still tons of video games you can play offline.
If you are looking for epic single-player experiences, get a PS4 or PS4 Pro. You will find great games such as The Last of Us, God of War, Control and Spider-Man.
Do you want local multiplayer? Why not get a Nintendo Switch? You can have fun with games like Overcooked 2, Diablo III, Mario Party and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime!
Of course, you can enjoy more games if you have a decent PC or laptop. Even games that have online multiplayer often come with an offline single-player campaign, such as Doom 2016 and the rebooted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
8. Make a few phone calls
Without an online connection, you won’t be able to rely on messenger apps like Snapchat or Facebook Messenger. You can’t Skype or use WhatsApp. However, you can still text and call.
Why not take the opportunity to make a few phone calls? Get in touch with your family or friends and spend time talking. Spending hours on the phone was a popular hobby in the 1980s and 1990s and you could try it out the next time you find yourself offline.
9. Spend time with your pets
You can never go wrong by spending more time with your pets. Take your dog out for a walk or spend a few minutes with your cat. They don’t need all the attention in the world, but it is always good to spend half an hour to an hour playing with them.
This not only gives you something to do when there is no Internet, but it also keeps your pets physically active and healthy.
10. Pick up a pen and write
Can’t get online for work or leisure? Take a moment to pick up your pen and write.
You don’t have to write a diary entry or novel, especially if you aren’t into that stuff. However, you can make yourself busy writing down ideas for your next blog post, a list of groceries or goals you want to achieve this year.
Writing these things down can help you formulate better plans to make sure you reach them.
Living without Internet at home isn’t as boring or slow as some people make it out to be. Remember: there was a time when no one in the world was online. If you aren’t used to an offline day, feel free to try out any of these activities to stay entertained and productive. You might discover a new hobby.
Article written by Jane Davies
This article was written by the guest author listed at the end of the article.