5 Ways to Spend Rainy Summer Days

It’s interesting how many different forms rain can take depending on where you live. Down south, it’s typical to have an occasional, gentle afternoon rain shower, and it’s typically welcome during hot summer days since it doesn’t tend to cause more disruption than causing you to head inside for 20 minutes. Up north, it can last much longer than just a brief shower and come in the form of a hard, steady downpour that can really dampen any outdoor plans. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the day in some way, shape, or form. You just need to have a backup plan. Don’t let a bit of rain dampen your mood. Instead, make the best of it with these five ways to spend rainy summer days.

1) Practice Hygge

A rainy day is often seen as a negative thing, but it’s all about how you look at it. It can actually be an excuse to slow down, disconnect from the buzz of your smart devices, and practice the Norwegian art of hygge, a word that is now so common that it’s in the dictionary and defined as “A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” People often interpret it as doing something that makes you feel warm, comfortable, and safe. So when the rain is coming down in buckets, we think practicing a bit of hygge is a welcome opportunity to reconnect with yourself or with some close friends in the comfort of your home. So grab one of those books you’ve been meaning to read but never made the time to. No books? Head to the library and pick up a coffee on the way back. Come home, slip into some comfy clothes, and kick up your feet while enjoying the fact that there’s nowhere you need to be and nothing you need to do but relax.

2) Head to the Kitchen

When stuck inside, the kitchen calls. It can be tempting to take too many trips to the snack cabinet or order fast food delivery. But why not, instead, pick out a recipe that you’ve always wanted to cook and spend the rainy day preparing it without being bound by constricting work schedules or after-school activities. This is a great idea for singles, families, and couples. After all, everyone has to eat. Bon appetit!

3) Catch Up on Some Z’s

Did you know that more than 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? By now, we know that a lack of sleep can lead to health issues besides making us grumpy, so why not use a rainy day to catch up on some shut-eye? We’re not talking about laying in bed with the curtains closed, though. We’re talking about using the rain to lull yourself into your happy place, drifting in and out of sleep while lying on some outdoor furniture under a covered porch or on your couch with the windows open. By the time the rain ends, you may feel rejuvenated and ready to go out and enjoy the rest of the day or night.

4) Harken Your Inner Child

Being holed up inside with kids on a summer day can really be a bummer — unless you have a handful of rainy-day ideas at your disposal to keep you busy. What you all do together will really depend on the ages of your kids, but the general idea is to use a rainy day as an opportunity to spend quality time together. While you may not be able to use the traditional “Go outside and play” command, that doesn’t mean you can’t make them disconnect from their smart devices and hang out with you. Pull out a few board games or a deck of cards. Make some popcorn, let them have some candy or snacks that they wouldn’t normally be allowed to eat, put on some music, and actually enjoy each other’s company. Think about things that they like to do, and make an excuse for yourself to harken your inner child and enjoy it like they do (or at least fake it). When so many days are spent telling them what to do and what not to do, it will be nice for them to see your fun side when you have an excuse to cancel your plans and just hang out at home.

5) Grab Your Umbrella!

You know the saying, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em?” Well, if you can’t stop the rain, you might as well get out and enjoy it! Granted, you won’t want to head outside when it’s lightning and thundering, but a gentle rainstorm can be a welcome break from hot summer afternoons. Whether enjoying it from a covered patio or sliding on some rain boots and splashing in puddles with the kids, just enjoy it while it lasts. After all, you’ll appreciate it next time you find yourself saying, “We could really use some rain.”