Not everyone lives in sunny Southern California, where the rain is as rare as affordable housing. For most of us, rainy days are an accepted inconvenience of life.
With that said, having your picnic canceled or a day at the ballpark postponed due to rain is a crumby experience no matter how familiar you are with untimely precipitation. And if you don’t have a backup plan in place, it means the potential for a whole day wasted.
Bowling, catching a movie, and enjoying good food and drinks with friends are just some of the things one can do when it’s raining outside. However, it’s not uncommon to find yourself stuck at home during inclement weather. With this in mind, let’s take a look at eight fun things to do at home on a rainy day:
Put a jigsaw puzzle together
Almost everybody owns at least one jigsaw puzzle set, but few go to the trouble of putting it together. A rainy day provides the perfect opportunity to finally put your puzzle-solving skills to work. Jigsaw puzzles are not only a fun way to pass the time, they’re a great way to get some brain exercise (which most of us need more than we want to admit).
Place an online wager
Do you live in a state where online sports betting is legal? If so, consider placing a wager on the outcome of a game or two. Whether it’s a small NHL sportsbook bet or a respectable sum placed behind a basketball point spread, there are many ways to play the odds with your favorite professional sport. Just make sure to play responsibly!
Read a novel
While finishing War and Peace might be difficult to do in a single day, there are countless novels out there that can be read within the span of several hours. From so-called airport thriller novels to cheesy romance, the genre can be whichever suits your interest.
Write a short story
Maybe you prefer writing to reading? If so, sit down and write a short story. It can be about anything and involve anyone. Use your imagination and let it run wild. But no matter how much your surroundings inspire you to do so, steer clear of the “It was a dark and stormy night” cliche!
Bake a pie
While freshly baked pies are associated with hot summer days and cool autumn evenings, they’re a tasty treat in any weather and time of year. Chances are you have most of the ingredients in your kitchen, although a filling may require a quick run to the supermarket. The thing about pie is it’s easy to make but versatile in terms of possibilities; America’s Test Kitchen classifies them into eight types. From there, it’s an almost endless list of options for the crust, filling, topping, and baking methods.
Binge-watch a beloved series
We’re all guilty of getting obsessed with a television series. Many of us got hooked on Netflix shows during the pandemic. Consider a rainy day as an opportunity to revisit one of your all-time favorites from the past. Since you can probably only get a season or two in within a single day, you might want to think about giving a new series a chance, especially one in its infancy.
Stroll on Street View
You might be stuck inside due to bad weather, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do some exploring. Use Google Street View to stroll down exotic avenues on the other side of the globe. Virtually every nook and cranny in every city on Earth is featured in this fascinating and free service.
Start your holiday shopping
Christmas might be several months away, but holiday shopping is never over. By looking for gifts throughout the entire year, you end up getting the best deals on the best stuff. Since so many people shop online these days, consider using a rainy day to search for the perfect gifts for friends and family.
Don’t let the rain ruin your day. Even if you’re stuck at home, there’s still plenty of fun to be had!
Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, finance, and travel.
