If you have lived in Georgia as long as I have, then you know of the incomprehensible and quite unpredictable weather patterns throughout the course of a single year. We have anywhere from ice storms in March to humidity-ridden days in December. But, quite possibly one of the most annoying weather occurrences in Georgia, is the rain. You have all heard of the famous saying, "April showers bring May flowers;" but what do January through March, and June through December showers bring? Nothing but frizzy hair, soggy shoes, and bad attitudes, that's what.
Even though cold, rainy days tend to bring you down, here are 18 things, quite productive things in fact, that can help beat those rainy day blues:
1. Catch up/get ahead on school work
Yes, I know doing homework is the last thing anyone wants to do on a rainy day; however, getting ahead on your school work when you are stuck indoors is a great way to create less stress throughout the rest of the week. Pop some popcorn, grab a fluffy blanket, and get to work!
2. Read a good book
One of the best things to do on a rainy day is curl up on the couch with a good book. The great thing about reading is you can choose whatever genre makes you happy. A rainy day is the perfect time to try a new book, or even just revisit one of your all-time favorites.
3. Have a movie marathon
The most common thing to do on a rainy day is, of course, to have a movie marathon. Now, even though it is the most common thing, that does not make it any less of a great idea. This is great because you can do it with a group of people or by yourself, and it will still be enjoyable. I would recommend a Harry Potter movie marathon, with Harry Potter themed snacks of course!
4. Organize your bedroom
I know no one likes to clean, but having an organized bedroom makes you feel comfortable, be more productive, and helps to lower your stress levels. As college students, we tend to spend most of our free time in our bedrooms. Whether that be your actual bedroom or your dorm room, it is always nice to make it feel more cozy.
5. Partake in a craft
When you're stuck inside on a rainy day, crafts are the way to go. You could make a decoration for your room, or create unique gifts for the holidays, or even make homemade bath salts and sugar scrubs (one of my personal favorites)! You can also create practical items. Since most of your income is probably going towards your college tuition, sometimes it's nice to make things, rather than buy them.
6. Paint on a canvas
Painting is a great way to let go of some stress and just relax. You can paint whatever you want on whatever size canvas you want...the possibilities are endless. The best thing about painting is, if you ever mess up or you simply don't like what you have created, just paint back over it in white and start again!
7. Catch up on your Bible study
If you are anything like me, you probably tend to put off your Bible study until the last possible moment in the day. A rainy day is the perfect time to catch up on everything you have failed to read throughout the beginning of the week. Nothing will ever make you feel more refreshed or more in tune with God than spending the day digging into the Word.
8. Try to pick up a new hobby
Picking up a new hobby can be relatively simple if you really work at it. Sitting inside on a cold, wet day would be the ideal time to try something new. You could try anything from baking, to yoga, to calligraphy. Finding a fun, new hobby that makes you happy is a great way to alleviate stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed. Plus, finding hobbies helps to build skills you might not have known you had.
9. Update your resume
One of the most stressful things, in the process of becoming an "adult," is having a fantastic resume to help you score great job offers. If your resume isn't glowing, you more than likely will not get an interview, so it is important that you take the time to carefully piece it together. A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to sit down and type up the best resume possible.
10. Start writing a book
Even if you don't want to admit it, EVERYONE has thought about writing a book or a novel at some point in their life. However, we always seem to be able to find the best possible excuses as to why we can't write it. When you are stuck in your room on a dreary day, it makes for the ultimate time to finally start writing that book you have always wanted to write. Also, rain is a very soothing sound when you are trying to write anything of importance (for example, this article you are reading)!
11. Meal prep for the week
If you live at home like me, you probably wait until the morning (when you should be walking out the door) to pack your lunch. By this time, you are in too much of a hurry to try and pack something healthy, so you might just go without. Use this opportunity to go in the kitchen and carefully plan out what you want to eat for the rest of the week. This will make for more getting-ready-time in the morning, and less stress on you throughout the rest of the day.
12. Try a make-up/hair tutorial
This one is for all the girls out there who have always wanted to try one of those "fancy" make-up or hair tutorials that cycle through YouTube. We never seem to have enough time to actually sit down and follow all the steps. Well, this is the perfect time!
13. Clean out your closet
Your closet may be clean, but is it really? Everyone has a closet full of clothes, of which probably half of them either don't fit correctly, are way too old, or you just simply never wear. A rainy day is a great time to weed out all those old outfits and get your closet organized.
14. Choose your outfits for the week
I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to choosing my outfit for the day, the morning of. Now, that isn't always a bad thing, unless you have a tendency to hit the snooze button a few times too many like I do. Take this free time to pick your outfits for the week, so you won't have to worry about it in the mornings to come. This will help you feel less rushed even when you wake up late.
15. Write yourself a letter to open in 5 years
If you enjoy writing, then you may choose to spend this rainy-day-in writing a letter to yourself to help plan for your future. Fill this letter with all your hopes and dreams for the next five years and where you plan on seeing yourself. As the years go on, this will help to motivate you towards bigger and better things. And when enough time has passed that you forget what you wrote, in 5 years it will be a (hopefully) pleasant surprise.
16. Surf Pinterest for a new project
A rainy day means more time in bed, which means more scrolling through social media, which (for me) means more surfing Pinterest. Pinterest is full of exciting and in-depth projects that really anyone can accomplish. You could find anywhere from a small project, like maybe building a custom book shelf, to a big project, like planning a trip to a foreign country. These "projects" can be anything you set your mind to!
17. Write a plan for your ultimate community service activity
If you are anything like me, then you LOVE community service. Not only are you helping those who are in need, but you are also helping yourself become a better person by branching out to new possibilities. A rainy day is the perfect time to sit down and really plan out the ultimate community service activity or event. Nothing feels better, than helping your community and making a difference in the lives of others.
18. Make a rainy day music playlist
This last one is a MUST for beating those rainy day blues. Take the time to create the ultimate playlist of all your favorite songs. The great thing about this solution to a dreary day is you can use it in almost all of the above solutions as well! Nothing will make you feel more pumped up than blasting your favorite music throughout the house while you make a productive day, out of a cold and rainy one!
It is a fact that rainy days make us feel down-in-the-dumps, but doing any (or all) of these 18 things can help you feel like the day is not completely wasted. Use this unplanned-for free time as a way to make your life a little more productive. This will help you feel less stressed and more accomplished, which is something we all need at times.
