Today, due to missile attacks, each of us faces daily blackouts or anxiety due to possible power outages. How to work in such conditions? Consider this article.
How to work in the absence of electricity
Beyond basic needs, we want to keep our jobs. Small businesses, freelancers, and remote workers especially experience difficulties in their work since buying a generator is an expensive pleasure and inaccessible to the average Ukrainian.
But in such difficult conditions, we also try to find options for continuing activities.
Organization of work during power outages
What are the main points we recommend considering for the organization of the workflow:
- Check where sites nearby have a generator and the ability to connect to the Internet. In advance, visit the so-called "Points of Invisibility," the addresses of which can be found here.
- It may also be worth considering looking for a coworking space. For example, if you are in Kyiv, UA War Infographics, in their telegram channel, posted an up-to-date and regularly updated list of Kyiv coworking spaces where there is a generator and Starlink satellite Internet.
- Try switching carriers to connect to mobile Internet. At the moment, Ukrainians can freely switch operators without changing the tariff.
To do this, you need the following:
If you have Android: go to Settings → Mobile network (or Connection) → Network operators
for iOS: Settings → Cellular data → Network selection.
After that, you need to disable automatic network selection and select the required one from the list that appears.
If the connection fails, reboot the phone or try again with a different operator.
- Negotiate with colleagues. If you work in a team, communicate and, if possible, replace each other. Especially if you are in different parts of the city or different cities
- Plan for what you need to download or do promptly when the light comes on
- Allocate as much time as you can. For example, shopping or cleaning can be left for the off period. Rearrange your daily routine depending on the situation
- Purchase devises to charge your devices and also maintain their serviceability. We'll talk about this separately.
What is best to have in a power outage
Of course, we all know that the optimal solution is a generator. But we understand that not every freelancer or business can afford such an expensive thing. Therefore, we recommend, if possible, acquiring at least minimal power sources.
- Powerbank
If you still do not have such a "jar," we recommend you search for it. After all, in this way, you can extend the operation of your devices.
What you should pay attention to:
- A power bank for smartphones is not suitable for charging laptops, since even a not very powerful laptop needs much more voltage than a phone. This is reported by the service for the sale of equipment Moyo.
- In our reality, it is better to save up and acquire a powerful power bank. Also, do not forget to check compatibility with your device and the presence of a working "cord" for charging.
- Solar chargers
You should choose such a device wisely, having studied specialized sources and reviews of manufacturers.
An aggregator with a wide selection of similar devices, Rozetka says that for personal use (to charge your phone/laptop), Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) chargers are fine because they don't require too much maintenance.
- Diode strips, flashlights, battery-operated lamps
Don't forget about lighting, too. This is especially true in the winter when it gets dark early, and even the lights outside the window do not light up.
Technique in blackout conditions
A pretty obvious tip would be to charge your phone and laptop as soon as you have the light on. At the same time, we often charge everything "to the maximum." UNIAN and other information sources recommend not charging the smartphone to 100%. Thus, we reduce the battery life. The same goes for the laptop.
Also, when blackouts occur, remember to unplug appliances from the outlet. For example, how often have you forgotten your charger plugged in or failed to open your laptop from the mains, risking its serviceability? And they will come in handy for you!
Experts in the field advise unplugging the appliances and turning them on at least 2 minutes after the appearance of electricity (the same applies to other household appliances, for example, a refrigerator and microwave. During breaks from work, everyone wants to have a bite).
The psychological aspect of working in a blackout
Many Ukrainians experience stress and apathy because the things we are used to are often unavailable, and it is much more difficult to work during this period. Thus, many processes are postponed or put "on pause."
Psychologists recommend:
- Don't worry if you have to cancel your plans. We are all in the same conditions, and communication and cooperation with colleagues and clients are more important than ever. Give advance notice that a call or other workflow will need to be rescheduled.
- Spend time with family and friends. During such a period, it is dangerous to be alone for a long time, as this negatively affects our psyche. Stay more in society. If you are self-employed, a good option is to visit coworking spaces or similar places with friends or like-minded people.
- Remember rest. Quality sleep, sports, walks in the fresh air - something that does not interfere with each of us. You can also choose any hobby that does not require electricity, for example, drawing.
Conclusion
We understand how difficult it is to work during this period. But remember that light will defeat darkness. So follow the recommendations and keep working.
We are also working, so you can contact us for a website!
