Self-Care During Load-Shedding — What Actually Works With No Power

Every self-care routine you read online assumes reliable electricity. Warm showers, hairdryers, fans, good lighting, a charged phone. In much of Pakistan, several hours of the day do not include those things — and load-shedding hours have a habit of landing exactly when you finally have time to yourself.

Here is what actually works when the power is out, ordered by how little it depends on anything electrical.

The shift in thinking

Load-shedding hours are usually treated as dead time — you wait for the power to come back and do nothing useful. But they are, structurally, the only guaranteed screen-free block in most people's day. That is worth something.

Plan for them rather than around them.

What works with no power at all

1. Cold-water skincare — better in the heat, not worse

Hot weather plus no fan means flushed, puffy skin. Cold water is the fastest fix and needs no electricity, only something to hold it.

An ice facial done during a load-shedding hour is genuinely one of the best uses of that time — it cools you down and does something for your skin simultaneously. Keep a BeeGlow Ice Facial Kit (Rs. 2,495) ready with ice made in advance, before the power goes. Our how-to guide covers technique.

Plan ahead: freeze ice during power hours. Nothing on this list matters if you have no ice when you need it.

2. Hair oiling — the ideal no-power activity

Champi requires zero electricity, takes as long as you want it to, and you would otherwise be sitting still anyway. Oil, massage, tie it up loosely with a claw clip, and let it sit for the duration of the outage.

Use a plain dark claw you do not mind getting oily — the Xl Block Claw (Rs. 415) is the sensible choice. Full detail in our hair oiling day guide.

3. Nap properly, in the dark

If it is a daytime outage and the house is hot, a nap is often the most sensible option available. A Silky Sleep Mask (Rs. 595) makes daytime sleep meaningfully easier, and it works whether or not the fan does.

4. Sort, organise, declutter

Genuinely satisfying, needs only daylight. Your accessories drawer, your jewelry box, the shelf you have been ignoring. Twenty minutes of this leaves the room — and usually your head — measurably better.

5. Read something on paper

The obvious one, and the one that most benefits from having no other option.

Prepare during power hours

The whole thing works better with fifteen minutes of preparation:

• Freeze ice — the single most useful thing
• Charge a power bank — for light, not scrolling
• Fill a bottle and refrigerate it
• Keep a small basket ready with oil, a claw clip, a hair tie and a book, so you are not hunting for things in the dark

Evening outages

Heat plus darkness plus no fan is the hardest version. What helps: cold water on wrists, neck and face rather than a full shower; hair completely up and off the neck — a twisted bun with a claw is the coolest style there is; loose cotton; and candles or a lantern placed low rather than a phone torch, which is harsh and drains your battery.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do during load-shedding to feel productive?

Oiling, decluttering, cold-water skincare, or sleeping. All four leave you better off and none need power.

How do I keep cool without a fan?

Cool water on pulse points, hair up and off the neck, loose cotton, and staying still. Hair up matters more than people expect.

Is an ice facial safe in extreme heat?

Yes, and it is one of the better times for it. Keep it short — a minute or two — and never press ice directly onto skin for long periods.

What should I keep ready for outages?

Ice, a charged power bank, cold water, and a small basket with your oil and a clip in it.

Do you deliver across Pakistan?

Yes — nationwide cash on delivery, free shipping over Rs. 4,500.

Related reading

See our at-home spa day guide for the full-power version, or bare-minimum self-care for low-energy days.