10 Things to Do on a Rainy Day

We’ve had a streak of rainy weather here (You know, that whole “April showers” saying). It can put a damper on your day’s plans. But I decided that I wouldn’t let a little rain ruin my fun. So here’s a list of stuff to do on a rainy day:

1) Read for pleasure: As I mentioned in a previous post (“Curling Up with a Good Book”), I don’t do enough reading, so I decided that rainy days would be a good excuse to get some reading done. Try it, and you might like it.

2) Go for a run: Moms probably wouldn’t approve of this since you could catch a cold, but I love running in the rain. There’s a liberating feeling about being out in the elements. Skip this one if there’s lightning though. Moms don’t approve of human lightning rods.

3) Bake chocolate chip cookies: Cookies are already awesome. Adding chocolate chips at least doubles their awesome-ness. Here’s a pretty darn good recipe here: link.

4) Watch a movie: Like you really need a reason to watch the Star Wars Trilogy. Just kidding, I can’t sit still that long. Slumdog Millionaire was pretty fantastic though. Highly recommended.

5) Dance: That’s right. Crank the music, jump around, and be happy that you’re alive

6) Sleep: If it’s good enough for cats, it’s good enough for me. Nothing hits the spot like a good nap.

7) Call an old friend: Everyone I know complains about not keeping in touch with people. If you’ve got nothing else going on, use a rainy day as an excuse to see how a loved one is doing. Alternatively, you can give someone a call and realize “oh yeah, I really didn’t have anything in common with that person.”

Sit and reflect: Just sitting in front of a window, looking out into the rain, and figuring out if you’re happy with where you are in life can be an eye-opening experience. The hustle of everyday life usually doesn’t lend itself to self reflection, but a rainy day is a great chance to do that.

9) Watch Internet TV: I’m a pretty big fan of Hulu.com. You can watch whole seasons of your favorite shows for free, and the commercials take a much smaller chunk of the overall viewing. My favorite: the Office.

10) Hand write a letter: My sister is amazing at hand-writing letters. In an age where everything is electronic, a written letter can really brighten someone’s day. Grab some paper and write out a meaningful “hello” to someone special.

What do you like doing on rainy days?