Though the track may have moved to the east, there’s still a chance that Hurricane Matthew could to be making a beeline for eastern North Carolina. Over the last few days, many have already scurried to stock up on food, water, gasoline and other essentials for preparation. Preparedness is important. Make sure to get the necessary supplies and stay informed.

But what is there to do once the storms arrive? Storms like this can leave folks cooped up in the house for an undetermined amount of time, which may lead to boredom that can feel as frustrating as the destruction outside.

The impending storms open a door to go ahead and cross off a lot of things on one’s to-do lists. Anyone that is far too behind on spring cleaning can catch up on that. Even without power, one can go ahead and clean out closets, dust and reorganize miscellaneous things around the house, just to name a few.

Students and adults alike can catch up on reading, too. If the hurricane ends up impacting school schedules, students can use the downtime to get ahead on work for the semester. Adults can also pick up the books they haven’t had time to sit down and read recently.

Families can enjoy huddling around the television and enjoying episodes of their favorite series. If the power goes out, it may be the perfect time to break out a favorite board game.

Whatever the tasks at hand are, being hunkered down inside for a prolonged period of time provides the chance to bond as a family. Whether it’s reading, cleaning, playing games, take advantage of the time together by being with one another.

Above all, though, be safe. Make sure to have candles and flashlights, with batteries, stocked so all these activities are possible should the power go out. Staying inside is the best way to avoid the dangers of any flood waters and intense winds that accompany these storms, so make sure to make the best of the circumstances.