Load Shedding Life Hacks

South Africa has been experiencing an energy crisis for over a decade and as a result, load shedding has become more and more expected. We are now planning everyday tasks around our individual schedules so we're not in the dark when the lights go out. Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate says that load shedding is a thorn in everyone's side but for now, ''the only thing to do is roll with the punches and the best way to do that, is to stay prepared'' - we never know when the infamous Stage 8 might strike...

Apart from the obvious like ensuring your phone is charged and all the light switches are off, here are a few tips and tricks to survive those dark days:

1. Download ESP - EskomSePush

This app is a must during the days of load shedding. You can choose as many areas as you like and get the appropriate schedule for each area. You also receive notifications and alerts, so you are kept abreast of any changes between the stages and/or if load shedding is suspended or not.

2. Make sure your appliances are protected

During load shedding, there is no current running through the wires to power your appliances which means that when the power comes back, there is a sudden surge of electricity which can cause the cables to burn up. Having these surges occur on a regular basis will eventually cause damage if your cables are not properly protected. It is recommended that you get a surge-protected unit to avoid having to replace electronics.

3. Non-electrical cooking

It's not ideal to have the power go off just as you start to prepare dinner, right? Avoid hungry tummies and invest in ''alternative'' cooking. Gas stoves are an obvious solution but don't forget the legendary braai - Eskom can take our power, but they can't take our grill!

4. Stay alert

If your home has an electrically operated gate, garage door or alarm system, ensure that you have backup batteries that are in good working condition. If your alarm system cannot use backup batteries, it is best to keep all access windows and doors well-lit.

5. Stay lit!

Rechargeable LED lights are a must-have during these rolling blackouts. They are not as bright as normal lights, but they are bright enough to light up the room for homework and household activities. It also comes in handy when trying to find your way around - beats a stumped toe any day! Candles are an alternative but if you are taking safety into account, it is best to go with LED lighting.

Load shedding, as inconvenient as it is, doesn't have to always be a bad thing. Having no electricity allows you to enjoy things you cannot usually enjoy when there's power i.e. camping out in the back yard and spending quality time with your family.

A quick list of fun things to do when the lights are out:

• Try your hand at yoga - practice a few relaxing moves and feel the stress of load shedding melt away.
• Whip out those board games - nothing passes the time like a good ol'game of Scrabble or Monopoly.
• Family night out - although there's plenty to do at home when the lights go out, if you'd rather be out and about, treat your family to a night out on the town.
• Braai, braai and braai! There is nothing South Africans love more than a good braai so grab that grill, toss a few steaks on there, invite a few mates over and voila, you've got yourself a party.

Load shedding doesn't have to be all doom and gloom, after all, we don't know how long we're going to have to endure these outages for so let's make the best of a bad situation and take it on the chin.