What a Long Power Cut Taught Me About Food & Life
Last Monday was really rainy and windy, so I wasn't that surprised on Tuesday when I woke up to find we had no power. Other than missing a morning cup of tea and breakfast, I wasn't that bothered and assumed by the time I got home in the evening, normal service would be resumed.
Well during Tuesday, the storm continued. On reflection I shouldn't have driven. With traffic lights out, multiple roads closed due to fallen trees and flooding, it was not a fun day to be out on the roads. That evening the power still wasn't back on, but luckily I managed to find some matches and candles by the light of my phone.
As I've written about before, I'm a chronic night owl. Even if I go to bed early, I'm just not tired – I can lie there for hours, willing sleep to come. I've tried everything. For months I've been waking up early to an alarm, the theory being I'll eventually be so tired, I'll have to start getting sleepy at an earlier time. I stopped using my computer in the evenings. I turn off all but some dim side lights in the evenings. So I assumed on Tuesday, the unusual feeling of deep sleepiness at 7:30pm was due to the stressful driving conditions. But on Wednesday night, still with no power, I spent the evening reading by candle light – and was hit by the unusual feeling of tiredness at a similar time. And the next day – and the next. By the end of the week – after just a few days, I was waking up before my alarm. This never happens.
Finally power returned late on Saturday night – and I've still not turned my tv on. I've realised it had become a habit turning the tv on, I wasn't putting it on because there was something special I wanted to watch, but because that's just what I did in the evening. I haven't missed it at all – and I wonder how much part this has played in my new sleep pattern? I'm not sure if it's the light, or the stimulation – or perhaps both, but tv and artificial light have clearly not been helping my sleep pattern.
I've realised how much I really, really appreciate my washing machine, hot water, oven and fridge/ freezer – but the other things – perhaps I need to do without.
Reconnecting with a Simpler Evening Routine
Spending several evenings without electricity might not sound like a recipe for personal insight, but in a strange way, it was a reset button. Without background TV noise, the hum of appliances, or endless screen scrolling, I was left with just the basics — a few candles, a book, and my own thoughts. What I discovered was how deeply we rely on overstimulation without even realising it. The default evening habits we’ve built around bright lights and entertainment might be robbing us of restorative rest and meaningful downtime.
The rhythm of the week felt very different. Evenings were naturally slower. The pressure to multitask disappeared. And most importantly, I noticed a dramatic difference in my sleep patterns. Instead of lying awake for hours, I was falling asleep with ease. It felt like my body finally had the chance to listen to natural cues rather than being overridden by artificial ones.
The Impact of Artificial Light on Circadian Rhythm
As I reflected on the changes, it became clear that artificial lighting and screens were major culprits in my sleep disruption. The circadian rhythm — our internal body clock — is heavily influenced by light exposure. In nature, as the sun sets and darkness falls, melatonin (the sleep hormone) begins to rise. But modern life disrupts that process. LED lights, computer screens, phones and televisions emit blue light that tricks our brain into thinking it’s still daytime, delaying the release of melatonin and making it harder to fall asleep.
During my power-free week, I was exposed to minimal artificial light. Candlelight doesn’t suppress melatonin the way LED lighting does. Combine this with a lack of digital stimulation and it makes perfect sense that sleep came so easily — and that I woke up refreshed.
Rediscovering Old-School Comforts
There’s a certain peace in evenings lit by candlelight. It forces a slower pace, one where you can’t do a dozen things at once. I found myself focusing more deeply on reading, actually finishing chapters without interruption. I listened to the sound of the rain, I noticed the flicker of candle shadows on the wall — things that are usually drowned out by screens and noise. These simple comforts felt grounding, almost ritualistic in their calming effect.
Perhaps we’ve moved too far from the natural rhythms of the day. We try to hack sleep with supplements, special mattresses, and white noise apps — yet the simplest change of all is the one we overlook: turning off the lights and embracing real darkness.
Could Living More Like This Be Sustainable?
Now that the power is back, I’m trying to keep some of these habits in place. I haven’t turned the television on once. I light a candle in the evening instead of flicking on all the lights. I sit with a book instead of opening up another tab or binge-watching something I don’t even care about. It’s not about rejecting modern conveniences, but about reclaiming control over them. Just because something is easy or available doesn’t mean it serves us well.
Many people in the ancestral health and paleo communities speak about aligning with the sun — waking naturally and winding down as the sky darkens. But in a modern home, those cycles are barely relevant unless we make conscious choices to follow them. The power outage inadvertently put me on a natural rhythm, and the benefits were immediate.
Practical Tips for Embracing Lower Tech Evenings
If you're curious about recreating this experience without needing an actual blackout, here are a few ways to reset your evenings naturally:
- Switch off screens at least an hour before bed: Replace scrolling with journaling, reading or listening to soft music.
- Use candles or amber-toned lamps: These create a softer, more relaxing environment and reduce blue light exposure.
- Avoid passive screen time: Turn off the television unless you’re watching something with intention. Background noise quickly becomes an unhealthy default.
- Embrace analogue hobbies: Reading, knitting, puzzles, or even simply stretching can be far more restorative than you might expect.
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule: Aim to wind down at the same time each night, even on weekends. The routine helps train your body to anticipate rest.
Appreciating What Matters Most
Of course, the return of electricity was a relief. I deeply appreciate hot showers, cooked meals, and laundry that doesn’t pile up endlessly. But it also reminded me that many of the conveniences we think we “need” are actually just habits. We can do without more than we think — and in many cases, our bodies and minds are better for it. A simpler evening routine doesn’t mean missing out. It means regaining peace, quality rest, and presence in the moment.
If you’ve been struggling with your own sleep, energy levels or screen fatigue, perhaps it’s worth experimenting with your evening setup. Try dimming the lights, skipping the nightly streaming, and slowing the pace. You don’t need a power outage to find a better rhythm — just a little intention and curiosity.
