After a big storm has passed, sometimes the biggest problem is just finding something to do while you wait for the power to come back. These can help!

Most people know what basics to get when a storm is coming—power stations, proper food and water, medical supplies, and so on. This is extremely critical when you lose power, and you should never skimp out on it.

But after the storm passes and everyone is safe and sound, you have a new problem to contend with—there may not be power. So what are you supposed to do when the lights are out? It can be dangerous to go for a walk after a storm due to possible downed power lines, and driving can be hit or miss depending on debris in the street.

In short, it’s important to make sure you have some devices set up to keep you comfortable and occupied. These five items can help!

Either an eReader or Tablet

Do you want to know the best way to pass the time? Some good old-fashioned reading. You don’t need any specific tech to crack open a book, but it’ll be significantly harder to read when it gets dark out. An eReader or tablet will solve that issue in no time, and they hold so many titles that you won’t get bored before the battery runs out.

I personally recommend an eReader because it has a much longer battery life than a tablet (and is generally cheaper). However, given that tablets have uses other than reading, you may prefer investing in one of those instead. Either way, make sure you download anything you’re thinking of reading before the storm hits!

A Portable Gaming Device

If you’re a gamer, what better way to pass the time than, well, gaming? Granted, you can’t exactly boot up your PS5 when the power’s out (unless you make an elaborate setup that will likely drain your chargers like no one’s business), so you’ll want to get some kind of portable instead. There are a few choices available, though the most obvious two are the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

While I would personally recommend the Switch (and specifically the Switch Lite) due to the longer battery life, if all the games you actually want to play are on Steam, then the Steam Deck or a similar device. You can even get away with a gaming laptop!

Whatever you do choose, though, be sure to turn off the Wi-Fi and/or put the portable into Offline Mode before the storm so you don’t run into issues with the system trying to use Wi-Fi or demanding you sign in.

Noise-Cancelling Headphones For Your Sanity

If you’ve dealt with a power outage for more than an hour or two, you’ll begin to become acutely aware of how much ambient white noise is actually in your home when you have power on. The way you notice it? You can now hear everything. Live in an apartment? Your neighbor’s conversations are almost crystal clear. Have a house? Every footstep will sound as loud as though they’re stomping on the ground.

In a word, it’s awful. What is the best solution besides a nice set of earplugs? Noise-cancelling headphones. You can drown out all the distracting or unwanted noise with some nice music or the game you’re playing. I personally love my Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones for this purpose—they’re a bit on the pricey side, but they’re worth the cost even beyond their use for drowning out sound during an outage. There are plenty of other great noise-cancelling headphones to choose from, however!

At Least One Compact, High Capacity Charger

While you may already have a portable power station, it’s always an idea to pick up a couple of smaller power banks to charge less critical tech. If your power station is keeping a fridge or electric cooler running so your food doesn’t spoil, you don’t exactly want to cipher some of that power away to charge your Steam Deck.

There are plenty of power banks on the smaller side that can charge a game console or phone a few times, but it can be worth the investment to spend a little more for a small charger with a higher capacity. Ugreen’s Nexode Power Bank is a great example of this, offering 20,000mAh and keeping all your smaller devices powered easily.

A Battery-Powered Fan

Okay, I’ll be honest: A fan isn’t exactly something to pass the time with. But it’s such an important bit of tech that will make you far more comfortable that I’d be remiss to add it. For many, storm season is going to hit hardest in the summer, so having a plan to make your home feel better is paramount, especially if you have pets or children. And hey, it might make you comfortable enough that you can pass the time by taking a nap! So it works.

Now, you may already have one of those personal neck fans that helps when you’re outside—I don’t mean those. I mean a fan that can help move air around a room, so everything feels less stuffy. Your best bet is to go with a camping fan, as they are already made with a lack of electricity in mind. Many can even double as power banks in a pinch, though it’s likely better not to drain the battery if you don’t know when you’re getting power back.