My recent move to a new apartment has rendered me internet-less at home for at least a week. During this time there are still work to be done and YouTube videos to be watched, so here are some ways I'm combating the lack of internet around the house.
Find the closest Wifi hotspot. It's no secret that many coffee shops (read: Starbucks) and restaurants offer free internet to its customers. Take advantage of these places to get your work done. Sure, it's not faster than your home internet, but it should be plenty of bandwidth to get your work done. What I do is comple the work that can be done without internet at home, then upload what you need for when you do have a connection. This has the added benefit of raising productivity, since I'm working without the distraction of Facebook.
Use your smartphone. Creating a Wifi hotspot is becoming a popular feature with the modern smartphone (even if it does cost an arm and a leg to use the internet that you already paid for). Those with jailbroken iOS devices or Androids loaded with custom ROMs can often get apps that will give your computer access to your mobile internet for free. Jailbroken iPhone users can check out MyWi. Those with customer Android ROMs can often create a Wifi hotspot by accessing the Connections function under the Options menu.
Use the apps. Many online services, from Amazon to Bank of America, have apps that are just as powerful as their online counterparts. I was just clicks away from getting everything I need from Amazon on my smartphone, even without a proper internet connection. So go ahead and search the app store for your favorite websites, you might just find they have an app for you.
Take a break. We've discussed a lot about the importance of unplugging and taking a break from always being connected. Take this time as your excuse to be free of internet for a week or two. Check out the new exhibits at the local museum or flip through the pages of an old book. Discover ways how people kept themselves entertained before the age of Netflix, YouTube and online gaming.
(Top Image: noii's licensed for use under Creative Commons)
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Monica & Austin's Charming Bungalow
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Four-P...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
True Greek Recipe: Paximadi Bread Salad with Tomatoes, Feta and Capers
...read a book?
I was surprised so many of these involved finding internet connections. I had no internet at all until I was 24 and had no connection or power following a few bad storms. Magazines, books, calling friends, hanging out with neighbors (including a couple who have no internet) and caring for my cats kept me sane. And I finally read the manual to my seeing machine!
@ EMMI, well I think the point of the article was how to get some connectivity even if your internet hasn't been hooked up yet, not how to fill the void in your time.
This might be one of those times when the core audiences of AT and Unpluggd are at a disconnect (no pun intended).
The library has superfast internet and you can even call and make an appointment for a computer at mine.
You are right, my apologies. And in fact i did mean to say that for work sometimes Internet is a must!
I use the credit on my phone account towards extra data and tether my phone to get the internet back straight away. I have an iphone but haven't needed to jailbreak to be able to do this, ios5 has it built in.
So the gist is... if you don't have internet, get internet?
Gee, never would have thought of that...
I had to wait a month to get my internet hooked up in a new rental (it takes forever to get an appt with time warner in honolulu). Fortunately I lived about 5 minutes from an apple store. I also cut back, didn't surf but went there if I really had to get on (thank goodness I wasn't blogging then). I usually used their computers but I could also sit outside in the mall with my laptop and hook up to their wifi if I needed too. This was in the midst of my separation and divorce and part of me was tempted to park around the corner from my hubby's house (also 5 minutes away) to use the internet that was formerly mine too!
When there is no internet, I get things done... Sad, I know. I tend to be a digital hoarder, so there is lots of organizing and tagging to be done with pictures, music and so fourth.
For those who tend to be creative, writing can be a good relaxing outlet, for the more stressed out cleaning can be a good thing to concentrate on, if you're anxious however, get out of the house and go for a walk.
And you will find that sometimes not having internet may be the best thing that will ever happen to you.
I had the same problem last summer. I solved it by knocking on my new neighbors door and ask if I could borrow access to his wireless internet connection for a week. No problem.