Rainy days are what stand in the way of a good mood.
No matter where you are in the world, when it rains, it pours. And I don’t just mean with water.
Your energy, motivation and joy all seem to pour out, leaving you feeling low and deflated. But I’m here to tell you, it doesn’t have to be like that. There is a way to embrace a rainy day and use it to your advantage.
Here are 101 rainy day activities to boost your mood on a bad weather day.
The impact of rain on your mood
The impact of rain on your mood is 100% subjective.
While some people love how snug rainy days make them feel, it can negatively impact other people.
I’m in the second camp.
When I lived in the UK, I used to hate rainy days. I couldn’t ever quite put my finger on what it was, but whenever I woke up to rain, it was like a switch went off in my mind, and I’d spend the rest of the day in a funk that I couldn’t shake.
It was only when I started to prioritise my well-being that I began to build resilience around rainy days.
This essentially came down to eliminating the negative influences around me (also known as quitting my 9-to-5 and leaving London) and cultivating a healthier mindset.
Now, instead of wallowing and using the bad weather as an excuse to have a bed day, I take advantage of the slower, cosier vibes — think of taking a step back from my business to reflect and regroup.
I do, however still struggle with low energy when it’s raining. I think it has something to do with the lack of sunlight and not getting my daily dose of serotonin.
So, while it’s pouring down outside, I spend time getting creative rest and doing the things I don’t usually have time for. This might look like scrapbooking old travel pictures, crafting my own photobook or doing a 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
Here’s the TL;DR version:
I now use rainy days as an opportunity to slow down, detox from social media and indulge in some much-needed self-care.
How to boost your mood on a rainy day
Just like how I overcame my dislike for rainy days, you can too.
It’s super important that you DO NOT skip the first step as it’s the foundation of your resilience to rain and all round shitty weather. Look at it this way: your mindset is the difference between a bad mood and a good mood on a rainy day.
And wouldn’t you rather take the second option?
Step 1 | Shift your mindset
Instead of feeling beat up by the dark, gloomy weather outside, reframe it as an opportunity for introspection. Slow down, look inward and reflect.
Step 2 | Design your rainy day
Don’t waste a rainy day.
I know it’s super tempting to hide under the covers and wallow, but trust me, as someone who’s been there — doing that will only make you feel worse.
I’m not telling you to “carpe diem” your way through a rainy day, but at least design it to serve you. Write a list of feel-good activities that you know will bring you joy when it’s raining outside.
Step 3 | Choose 2-3 activities to indulge in
The next time it’s raining, go through your feel-good activities list (or the one below) and choose 2-3 activities to engage in based on your needs.
For example, if you’re craving rest, choose a relaxing activity. If you’re feeling inspired and motivated, do something which will stimulate your mind.
I guarantee if you choose the right activities, you’ll feel more positive about the rain and less likely to wallow.
101 activities to add to your rainy day routine
From doing a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle or making your own face mask to jumping in puddles, here are 101 activities to dive into on a rainy day.
To make it even easier for you to find your ideal activity, I’ve separated the list into categories. So whether you love getting creative and stimulating your mind or being playful before relaxing, there’s an activity for you.
And if you’re feeling brave or even LOVE the rain, there are some great outdoor activities to check out too.
I encourage you to bookmark this blog post so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
Creative activities for a rainy day
- Create your own vision board
- Write a love letter to your future self
- Put together a comfort or memory box
- Scrapbook old holiday or travel snaps
- Write a short story or poem
- Colour in an adult colouring book
- Paint by numbers or go free-hand
- Sketch
- Make your own soy candles using seasonal scents
- Learn how to knit
- Sew any items of clothing that have holes or need a spruce
- Declutter your desktop by using an organiser
- Write a letter to a friend and send it in the morning post when it’s not raining
- Make a homemade pizza with fresh veggies
- Create a rainy day music playlist
- Make your own recipe using ingredients you already have
- Start a passion project
- Learn how to use Canva
- Make friendship bracelets
- Colour coordinate your bookshelf
Productive activities for a rainy day
- Read Stay & Slay: How To Beat Burnout Without Quitting Your Job
- Learn a new skill or language
- Play different solitaire games
- Watch a documentary
- Journal your thoughts
- Practice gratitude and focus on the positives
- Start an online course on an interesting topic
- Map out your core values using this step-by-step guide
- Play a game of chess with a loved one
- Do a crossword puzzle or word search
- Tuck into a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
- Play Scrabble
- Solve a Sudoku puzzle
- Explore your Ikigai
- Look for new job openings if you’re feeling stuck with your current 9 to 5
- Read your favourite non-fiction book
- Listen to a podcast
- Listen to an audiobook
- Take an online technical cooking class
- Solve a Rubik’s cube
- Get started with a productivity tool like Notion
- Detox from social media for a few hours
Playful activities for a rainy day
- Learn to play a musical instrument
- Write a bucket list of everything you want to do in summer
- Plan your next trip abroad
- Or just book a flight to somewhere tropical
- Start your own blog or film your first YouTube video
- Host an indoor girly picnic
- Go on an online shopping spree
- Plant indoor seeds or herbs
- Make a homemade smoothie or juice with fresh fruits and vegetables
- Rearrange your furniture
- Put on some cheesy 90s music and have a dance party
- Get dressed up and watch the Taylor Swift Era’s Tour at home
- Have a board game marathon
- Make the ultimate hot chocolate using marshmallows and cream
- Buy yourself some colourful flowers
- Make homemade lemonade
- Take an online calligraphy class
- DIY your own body scrub or face mask using natural ingredients
- Make pasta from scratch
- Have a good old belly laugh
Relaxing activities for a rainy day
- Declutter your wardrobe
- Spring clean your mental, physical and digital spaces
- Practice meditation
- Come up with your own yoga flow
- Do a gentle stretch routine
- Read through one of my blog posts
- Give yourself an at-home manicure and pedicure
- Exfoliate and stimulate your skin with dry brushing
- Light the candles, put on some mellow music and have a bath
- Go online book shopping for your summer beach reads
- Watch an episode of Sex and the City
- Bake cookies
- Make your own feel-good Spotify playlist
- Read The Weekly Debrief for the latest unfiltered advice
- Call a loved one
- Declutter your toiletries and makeup bag
- Tidy up your workspace and throw out any old supplies
- Have a movie marathon — Lord of the Rings anyone?
- Read your favourite contemporary fiction book
- Watch a classic movie
- Sit, watch the rain and do nothing
Outdoor activities for a rainy day (if you’re feeling brave)
- Bundle up and head out on an invigorating walk or run
- Put on your wellies and splash in the puddles
- Head out to a cosy pub and relax by the fire with a good book
- Hang out in your favourite coffee shop all day and people-watch
- Go for a scenic drive
- Head on a spontaneous adventure
- Visit a botanical garden or local nature reserve
- Head to the park and feed the ducks
- Go on a bike ride
- Take artistic rainy day photos
- Birdwatch from your window
- Visit a museum or art gallery for the day
- Go for a swim in a natural body of water — 10/10 recommend swimming in the rain
- Spend the day exploring a new city or town on foot — the rain gives it a whole new vibe
- Take an umbrella and head on a guided meditation walk
- Attend a rainy day farmers’ market and huddle under the shelter
- Visit a local outdoor sculpture garden
- Explore a historic site or ruins with a guided tour (I experienced Stonehenge in the rain, and it did not disappoint)
- Explore a nearby coastal area and experience the beauty of rain by the sea
- Treat yourself to a spa day (not outside, but you do need to brave the rain to get there)
Save these ideas on Pinterest for later:
Final thoughts
There are endless activities which will leave you feeling good on a rainy day.
101 of which are listed above. So there is no excuse for spending a bad weather day wallowing in bed wishing you were on a tropical island.
The next time it’s pouring with rain outside, pick yourself up, choose an activity or two from the list and have fun.
Drop a comment below with your favourite rainy day activity and tell me why you swear by it. My go-to will always be the jigsaw puzzle! The king of rainy day activities
Until next week,
Thalia xx
