Rainy days, we should be more than used to them in the UK. Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter we have more than our fair share of wet weather. They can be a real bummer, especially if you had your heart set on a sunny picnic or a stroll in the park. A rainy day is nature’s way of telling you to pause your busy life, stay indoors, and switch gears from the outdoor frolics to the cosy comforts of your home. But fear not, my fellow pluviophiles (now there’s a new word for me) and those who might not even know they’re pluviophiles yet (that’s a lover of rain, by the way), because after the initial bliss of hearing raindrops pitter-pattering against the windowpane fades, boredom can set in faster than a thunderclap can scare the skeleton out of you. So, I’ve got a deluge of ideas to turn that gloomy day into a flood of fun!
Firstly, let’s ease in to a classic rainy day activity. Something you can do alone, with a partner, with the kids or even your best friend. The movie marathon. But why stop at movies when there are plenty of TV box sets to binge on! Grab your favourite snacks, build a fort out of blankets and pillows, and dive into a sea of classic films, trendy series, or that one season of a show you’ve been telling yourself you’d watch when you have the time. Well, guess what? The rain gods have just handed you all the time in the world, you can finally watch that 3 hour epic you’ve been putting off for months. And if you can’t decide on what to watch, take a look at what I have been watching recently here.
Movies and television not your thing? What about a DIY Spa Day where you turn your bathroom into a spa and pamper yourself. Face masks made from kitchen ingredients may not look glamorous, but your skin will thank you … probably!
How about Indoor Camping: pitch a tent in the living room using blankets and sheets with bonus points if you can make a campfire out of cushions (just don’t try to light it).
Musically minded? Put on a Home Concert and blast your favourite tunes for a fun dance party. Your pets can be the audience – they’re the only ones who won’t judge your dance moves. And all that movement is fantastic exercise.
Continuing the musical theme, what about Family Karaoke Showdown and challenge your family members to a sing off battle (or should that be a sing off key battle?). Perform dramatic renditions of power ballads and see who gets the highest score.
With the Paris Olympics just finished, why not have your own Indoor Olympics. Challenge your siblings, parents and even grandparents to some sock skating, cushion hurdles, and the floor is lava – let the games begin!
Try hosting a Treasure Hunt and hide things around the house and make a treasure map. X marks the spot where you’ll find the remote control… eventually. With the winner being in control of the evening’s entertainment.
For those with a competitive streak, it’s time to dust off the board games and enter into the challenge of the Board Game Olympics. Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Twisted History, or what about an Exploding Kitten or even Doggy Doggy Woof Woof! Let the dice roll, cards fall and laughter begin! May the best family member win, and may the losers do the dishes (a little added incentive never hurt anyone). I love to play board games and you can find all my board game reviews on my sister site What’s Good to Play.
Or maybe you just want a lazy day, snuggled up on the couch with a good book. Reading is perfect for those rainy days. With a good book you can loose yourself in the story for hours and be taken on a rollercoaster journey of emotion and adventure, crime and punishment, murder and mayhem and plenty of fun and hilarity. The only problem is picking your next book to read, but help is on hand over at What’s Good to Read. Lose yourself in bookwork heaven.
Alternatively, turn your hand to writing your own novel. The sound of rain pattering against the window makes the perfect soundtrack for a deep dive into literature. Who knows, you might just pen the next bestseller titled “Fifty Shades of Rain”, “Charlotte’s Raincloud” or even the horrifying “The Raining”.
Maybe you would prefer to embark on a culinary quest and try your hand at becoming a Master Chef? Unleash your inner Gordon Ramsay (without the bad language hopefully) or Nigella Lawson and tackle that recipe you’ve been eyeing but never had the time for. Maybe you really admire Paul Hollywood or Mary Berry and baking is more your bag. Whether it’s a complex beef bourguignon, a simple yet scrumptious homemade bread or a deliciously delectable double fudge cake, cooking or baking is a sure fire way to warm the heart and belly on a drizzly day. You can find some excellent recipes on https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes.
And if you’re feeling whimsical, declare an ‘Off Kilter Day.’ Breakfast for dinner? Revolutionary! Dessert before the main course? Scandalous! Clothes worn backwards? Avant-garde! This topsy-turvy theme is bound to inject some laughter into the dreariness and liven up your day.
Or you could turn to your crafty DIY skills and unleash your inner artist with some DIY craft projects. Whether it’s painting, knitting, or upcycling old furniture, crafting is a fantastic way to spend a rainy day. Not only does it stir your creativity, but you also end up with something beautiful or practical to show for your time. You could create your own line of scented candles that smell like, you guessed it, wet earth and fresh rain. Or maybe knit a cosy sweater for your pet rock. It’s been looking a bit chilly lately. Need some inspiration? Take a look at Hobbycraft’s website for some great ideas for beginners.
Or you could just use the time to clean and declutter and create a much more streamlined home … for five minutes anyway until the indoor Olympics or treasure hunt begins and turns everything upside down. Turn on some upbeat tunes and start cleaning out that junk cupboard you’ve been avoiding. Who knows what long forgotten “treasures” you might find in there and move from one cupboard to another.
Lastly, for the brave souls who dare to defy the downpour, why not venture outside? Rainy day activities need not be confined to the indoors. Grab your wellies and your most outrageous umbrella and go for a sing & dance in the rain, or at least follow Peppa Pig’s example and jump in some muddy puddles. Or just go for a stroll and catch raindrops on your tongue, and remember what it was like to be a kid without a care in the world. Just make sure to avoid lightning; it’s nature’s way of photobombing, and it’s not as fun as it sounds. As the saying goes, “When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles” (A.A. Milne, ‘Winnie The Pooh”).
So there you have it. A plethora of activities to ensure that the next time the skies open up (which probably won’t be too far away), your spirits don’t have to plummet and be dampened down. Embrace the rain and remember, every cloud has a silver lining – sometimes it’s just hiding behind a board game, a freshly baked cake or between the pages of a fresh new novel.
I hope your next rainy day at home is filled with happy memories and activities. Let us know in the comments below what your favourite rainy day activities are.