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It’s raining so hard that school was canceled, you can’t get to work or you simply want to enjoy a day indoors. Looking for ideas on how to entertain yourself or others? Here’s what to do on a rainy day at home.
You can pass the time by whipping up some fresh-baked tortilla chips, sandwiches or a batch of cookies. Then, you can spend even more time eating them!
If you live with other people, see if they’d like to join in and help you in the kitchen. Your kids might not be five-star chefs, but they’ll have so much fun licking the spoon and cracking eggs. Just be prepared for a couple of shells in your cake.
Break out the guitar or ukulele and play your favorite songs. If you don’t know how to play an instrument, a rainy day is the perfect time to learn one. You can also make music by singing or banging on pots and pans. Or, put on a playlist and just listen and dance along.
You know what pairs perfectly with a rainy day? A cozy, knitted blanket or sweater. Making your own clothes, bedding and home decor out of yarn is a relaxing way to enjoy a day at home. Maybe you could even make something for your friends and family, like baby socks or stuffed animals.
Do you have a Spanish book that’s been gathering dust on the shelf? Get it out and memorize some new words. You can also use websites, apps and movies with subtitles to help you expand your vocabulary.
Learning another language opens up whole new worlds — you’ll be able to meet people, travel to other countries and read foreign newspapers straight from the source, giving you a broader perspective on global affairs.
Plus, you can finally order food from that authentic Mexican restaurant without mixing up the words for lawyer and avocado, or staples and grapes. They’re just so darn similar.
Pop some popcorn, dim the lights and put on a film. Choose an old favorite or close your eyes and pick one at random from the queue. Sure, it could be one of the worst-rated Ice Age sequels, but it might end up being so bad that it’s good. Then invite some friends over to enjoy the movie together.
If you want something more laid back and soothing, set up some chairs on the porch and then watch the downpour. Thunder and lightning can be just as interesting as a movie. Stick your hands out from under the roof and let them get rained on.
Connect with some friends online to play virtual card games and beat them in a round of golf. Or, play a solo RPG and immerse yourself in a fantasy realm of elves, wizards and orcs. It’s not raining over there.
Get lost in another world by picking up a fiction novel, or delve into a fascinating read about medical mysteries, royal scandals or the hidden social lives of ants. You have an unlimited wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. If you don’t have anything interesting on your bookshelf, find a free book online or purchase an ebook to read on your phone.
With a little creativity, you can turn your own bathroom into a world-class spa retreat. Mix up a body scrub in the kitchen by blending olive oil and sugar, then use it to exfoliate your skin. Soak in a bubble bath, dye your hair, paint your nails or give yourself a pedicure. When you finally go back outside, you’ll look and feel invigorated.
Give in to your kids’ demands and join them in hiding around the house. Or, play the reverse version — called sardines — where only one person hides, and multiple people search for them. Whenever you find the hider, you have to hide with them, until several people are stuffed into one tight spot like sardines.
By the end, one person is looking for all their friends or family who have to somehow remain silent as they’re all crammed under the same table. It’s a hilarious, lighthearted thing to do on a rainy day at home.
Let the weather inspire you and paint a blue, stormy watercolor. Or, take turns with your roommates to pose for each other, and then try to draw each other’s portraits in under five minutes apiece. The results should be interesting.
Enjoy a quick round of Bananagrams or Scrabble if you like word games, or play something kid-friendly like Candy Land. If you have several hours to kill and want to test your relationship’s strength, set up Catan or Monopoly, then remind yourself over and over that your spouse doesn’t actually want to steal your resources.
Probably.
Chase your friends or kids around the house and try to tag each other with foam darts. You can combine this with a game of hide and seek, or play some old-fashioned cops and robbers.
Make up your own house rules. For example, if you get hit in the arm, maybe you can no longer use that arm, or you can use pillows as shields to fend off incoming darts.
Snip some branches or stems off the succulents, vines and other houseplants you promise you’re going to water soon, then plant them in individual pots. In a few weeks, once the cuttings have established themselves, you can give them away as gifts to friends or family members.
Reconnect with your inner child. Put on some rain boots or go barefoot, then run outside, get in the mud and splash around for a minute. There’s no rule that says you have to stay indoors unless the sun is out. Then, you can follow up by taking a hot shower and snuggling up under a blanket.
Hopefully, these tips gave you some inspiring ideas for what to do on a rainy day. Keep it calm and relaxed by doing self-care, reading books and baking, or up the ante and play exciting games around the house. Even if the weather isn’t cooperating, there are so many ways to have fun. All it takes is a little imagination.
