How to stay productive when there’s no internet

Is the internet out of the way? Don’t panic! A small gray icon doesn't stop you from getting your job done. Whether it's a journey without Wi-Fi or an office network crash, the following methods can help you stay efficient.

Make full use of offline services to continue working

Faced with the frustrating "can't connect" prompt, you may be unable to help but spend time playing Google dinosaur games. But you can do better! Many online services support offline access, such as Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Calendar. Of course, you can't download new emails or sync new files, but you can view what you saved when you last connected to the network.

It should be noted that you may not be able to enable offline access while the network is off-network, so be sure to plan in advance and check the settings when there is a network connection. For example, when I was disconnected from the internet last time, I found that I turned on this feature a long time ago, so I was able to continue working easily.

Desktop applications almost all support offline access, so if you need to read emails in Microsoft Outlook or view notes in Evernote, you can open them and continue working. After the connection is restored, they sync new changes. If you know in advance that the network will be interrupted, you can even download relevant articles you need to work in an app like Pocket to access offline later.

Carry out some "virtual" cleaning work

Your computer hard drive is probably a mess. No matter how tidy you pay attention to keeping it clean, other tasks will always interfere with you. Even as I was writing this, my kid’s latest photos were still waiting to be transferred to my photo manager, my desktop was filled with unwanted shortcuts, and my hard drive was still sending out an alarm about insufficient space.

When the internet is off, it is a great time to deal with these boring but necessary tasks. You'll have to deal with them sooner or later, so what better time than being forced to pause other work? Clean up your hard drive, organize your messy desktop, delete unused browser extensions, and even wipe your laptop with dust – it can be quite dirty.

Complete some non-digital to-do items

Every day, I postpone important but not urgent tasks and prioritize more urgent office work. I need to call the plumber and finally fix the water heater; I need to mow the lawn; I need to go to the bank; I also really need to deal with that pile of spam on the kitchen table. You'll be amazed at how fast your to-do list grows when the "real" work is done.

Because many tasks do not require the internet—even computers—they are perfect for handling when network outages. So start working on tasks you can do in your current location – if you are stuck in the office, obviously you can’t mow the lawn. Even if you never leave your desk, handling those calls you have been procrastinating can make it easier for you. By the way, call your family, too—they may not have heard from you in a long time.

Have a brainstorm

It is easy to feel overwhelmed when facing so many tasks every day. According to David Allen, author of the book Get It All and creator of the productivity method of the same name, the key to organizing your messy thoughts is to transfer them from your mind to paper. This will help you avoid that anxiety that comes when you have a long list of things you want to remember but are worried about forgetting. You won't forget what is written in front of you.

When the network is out, it is a good time to do this, so take out a piece of paper and do a brain-emptying. Write down everything you've been thinking about: the ideas you've always wanted to come up with your boss, the things at home that stress you out, and even the ridiculous ideas you've had in the shower. Once all the ideas are written, determine which tasks can be entrusted to others and which tasks can be completed immediately. Once you distinguish what makes sense from the cluttered, you can get back into the work with more confidence when the internet resumes.

Learn the skills you've been procrastinating

There are many aspects of my work I want to do better, but I never took the time to study. For example, I want to learn some Photoshop tricks, or at least write some keyboard shortcuts for operations I often use. I believe that I'm doing everything in Excel is a lengthy way, not an efficient way.

Of course, the Internet is very helpful in learning how to use these tools, but you will be surprised to find that you can do some exploration offline. Browse the menu to see what you've found. If you're in the office, maybe the Excel expert in the corridor is willing to give you a short crash course. After all, their internet was also cut off, so their day was completely free.

Unplug the power supply and go for a walk

It's nothing shameful to take advantage of the opportunity of network outages. In fact, you should probably stand up and take a break more often, as sitting all day will slowly kill you, and the screen may cause eye strain.

Leaving for a while doesn't mean you're a lazy person—research shows that mental rest can help you stay focused, and walking can enhance your creativity. So, while you may not have an excuse to take a leave home, take advantage of the network outage and breathe fresh air. Who knows, this may give you a new perspective on the tasks that have been bothering you, thus giving you more motivation to get the job done.

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