Lots of people imagine a flurry of nonstop work when the power goes out for a longer period. Sometimes that's the case, but at other times, due to a natural disaster, the safest course of action is to stay in your home. All of that idle time can wreak havoc on your mental state with boredom or your imagination running amok. So, before disaster ever strikes, it's a good idea to think about what to do for entertainment when the power goes out.

In our tech-obsessed world, living without a constant barrage of entertainment and information can feel almost like withdrawal from a drug. Be sure to have some things on hand to keep your mind occupied.  (If you have kiddos, here's a list specifically for them.)

Here's how to stay entertained when the electricity goes out.

I asked some folks on Facebook what they like to do when the power goes out and they gave me some great suggestions. Use this list to stock up on the right supplies to keep yourself entertained and pleasantly busy.

Keep in mind you're going to need some lighting for many of these activities. I absolutely love my inexpensive LED headlamps at times like these.