In any stressful situation, it is imperative that you keep your morale high. In a crisis you absolutely must be able to take your mind off of your current situation if for only a small amount of time. Having the ability to entertain yourself and your family will help to alleviate the stress of any tense situation.
Entertainment comes in many different forms and range from single player games to full family undertakings. Having a library of books at your disposal is a huge plus as they can be both entertaining and educational.
You can purchase a ton of books from used book stores for a fraction of the retail price. Most stores even have a clearance section with books for under a dollar. If you like to read magazines but don’t want to have a subscription, you could even go to your local doctor’s office and ask for any old magazines that they may throw out.
When I say books or magazines, I just want to clarify that I mean a physical item. Having an iPhone, ipad or Kindle library will only take you as long as the battery lasts. While I do have an iPhone and Kindle, and I do keep books on them as they are great for travel and take up no space, I also keep several shelves filled with books.
You could also do something as simple as teaching yourself to whittle or learn to play the harmonica. Your spare time could also be used learning to tie useful knots like a bowline, sheepshank, or even a simple square knot.
I usually spend travel time tying and untying a piece of paracord into different braids. My favorite so far has been the blaze bar because I can unravel it in seconds and start again easily.
These are basic ideas for entertainment, but there are many more games and activities that you can enjoy either by yourself or with your family.
Below is a small listing of other simple games and activities that you can use to ease the burden that crisis may bring:
- Solitaire (Learn to play)
- Uno
- Jenga
- Mancala
- Chess
- Checkers
- Trivial Pursuit
- Trouble
- Aggravation (a personal favorite that my family plays every Thanksgiving)
- Risk
- Gin
- Poker
- Monopoly (this game will test the strength of your family)
- Puzzles
- Knot tying games
- Yahtzee
- Scrabble
Keeping yourself entertained is vital to your survival. If you are able to distance your mind from your current situation it will lower your stress level with will reduce the impact that a crisis has on your body and mind. Entertainment is widely considered a luxury item but in a survival situation it does become a necessity. Whether you are surviving on your own or with your whole family you will be much better off if you can keep yourself entertained.
