There was a time when I would feel irritated whenever there was a power cut. Like many others, I would immediately complain about the inconvenience and wonder why it had to happen at that particular moment. When there is an unexpected power cut during peak hours or in the middle of the night, people including me naturally become frustrated and blame the electricity board.
Sometimes I wonder whether I have simply become used to them or whether I have learned to find happiness regardless of the situation around me.
When a power shutdown is announced in advance, we mentally prepare ourselves. We finish important cooking work, charge our phones and laptops, store enough water if needed, and prioritize the tasks that require electricity. We enter the day already knowing that certain comforts will be unavailable for a few hours.
But things become different when we forget to charge our phones. Imagine a situation where there is no electricity, the television cannot be switched on, and the mobile phone battery is dead. Suddenly, all the usual sources of entertainment disappear. There are no reels to scroll through, no television programs to watch, and no distractions available at the touch of a button.
At that moment, it becomes just me versus me.
Interestingly, this is when many unfinished tasks finally get completed. The cupboard that has been waiting to be cleaned for months suddenly gets organized. Clothes that have been lying unfolded are neatly arranged. Old, damaged, and unused items are sorted out and thrown away. Small household tasks that have been postponed repeatedly somehow find their way to completion.
These are often the very tasks we have planned to do countless times but kept postponing due to lack of time, energy, or interest. Yet when electronic distractions are removed, we naturally turn towards them. Looking back, I honestly feel that if electricity had been available and my phone had been fully charged, many of those tasks would still be sitting on my to-do list.
It made me realize something important. When we have unlimited access to entertainment and distractions, we often ignore the quiet responsibilities waiting for our attention. The unfinished tasks remain unseen because our focus is constantly pulled elsewhere.
One of the most beautiful experiences during a recent power shutdown was the time I spent with my younger daughter. If the television had been working, she would most likely have been watching her favourite programs. If my phone had been charged, I would probably have spent my spare moments browsing through videos or social media.
Instead, we both found ourselves with no electronic devices to occupy our time.
Without planning it, we started talking, laughing, playing games, and simply enjoying each other’s company. We listened to each other, shared stories, giggled over silly things, and spent quality time together. It felt natural and effortless. The happiness we experienced was not created by any gadget or screen. It came from genuine human connection.
Another surprising thing I noticed was how productive the day became. Household chores that normally seemed to stretch across the entire day were completed within a couple of hours. The house looked cleaner and more organized, leaving me with extra time to rest, spend time with my family, and focus on other important activities.
This experience made me realize how much our attention gets divided on ordinary days.
Many times, when we finally get a short break of thirty minutes or an hour, we tell ourselves that we will rest. But before lying down, we think, “Let me just check a few reels for five minutes.” Those five minutes slowly become thirty minutes, and before we realize it, the entire rest period has disappeared.
Social media reels are designed to keep us engaged. One video leading to another, and another follows after that. We continue scrolling without noticing how quickly time passes. By the time we decide to put the phone down, our children return from school, household responsibilities call again, and the opportunity to rest is gone.
Personally, I have often wanted to change this habit. I know the time could be used more meaningfully, yet the endless scrolling somehow pulls me back. I believe many people can relate to this struggle.
During a power shutdown, however, the choice is removed for us. Since there is no television and often no phone usage, we complete our pending work first. Once everything is finished, we naturally use our free time to rest, think peacefully, or simply enjoy the quietness around us.
Of course, I am not suggesting that we can live without electricity. Modern life depends heavily on it, and electronic gadgets are incredibly useful. They help us work, learn, communicate, and entertain ourselves. A six- or seven-hour power cut once a month may feel refreshing, but living without electricity for extended periods would be difficult.
The issue is not the existence of technology but our relationship with it.
Technology is one of the greatest conveniences of modern life, yet it can also become one of the biggest distractions. While it helps us accomplish many things, it can quietly reduce our concentration, delay important responsibilities, and consume time that could otherwise be spent on meaningful activities.
Entertainment itself is not the enemy. Watching movies, enjoying television shows, and spending time on social media can help us relax and temporarily escape from life’s pressures. Everyone deserves moments of enjoyment and recreation.