Rain, rain, please go away! It seems like the past few weeks have been nothing but cold weather, dark clouds and lots of precipitation, which has put a damper on everyone’s excitement for spring. When it rains, especially at a campus like Penn State, it can feel like there’s nothing to do except stay inside and wait for it to pass. Luckily, VALLEY has some fun ideas for how to spend your next rainy day!
Make it a movie day
Sometimes the best thing to do on a rainy day is stay at home, curl up in a blanket, turn on a movie and just hang out. If you want, you can even invite some friends over and turn it into a movie marathon! Kick it up a notch by picking a theme or genre — you can stick to classic chick flicks such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Pretty Woman,” and “10 Things I Hate About You,” or turn it into an action-filled adventure with a variety of Marvel films. You can also re-watch your favorite sagas — like “Harry Potter” or “Star Wars” — or even start a new one; the options are endless! Order your favorite foods, cuddle up on the couch and just relax inside for the day.
Bake some fun treats
Another fun activity is to put your baking skills to the test. A rainy day is a perfect excuse to make that dessert that you’ve been craving or to try a new recipe you’ve been looking at. Make it even more fun by inviting over some friends. You can either bake some cookies together or have a baking competition so that everyone can make their favorite desserts. No matter what skill level you are at, baking with others is always fun! Better yet, when you’re done, you have a delicious snack to enjoy.
Create an at-home spa oasis
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money (or if you just don’t want to leave your house) an at-home spa day is a perfect relaxation option for a day where the rain just seems to not go away. A DIY spa day is a great way to relax indoors and practice some self-love. Light some candles, put on a face mask, listen to your favorite music and feel the stress fade away. If you want to get fancy, book yourself a facial, massage or a mani/pedi at a local spa. While you will have to step out in the rain, sometimes a nice massage or a new nail color makes the rain worth it.
Get crafty
Bring out your creative side by taking part in some fun crafts. There are tons of easy options that are perfect for a chill day at home. Use your rainy day to make something for your dorm or apartment! Create the photo wall you’ve always wanted or make a DIY flower garland to hang in your living room. If you’re looking for something a little less time-consuming, do some painting. Buy a cheap canvas or some wooden letters, a few bottles of paint and some brushes and you’re good to go.
Catch up on some work
As a college student, school is always a priority. If you feel like you’re always behind on work, or you just want to get ahead, a day full of rain is a great chance to sit down and focus. A rainy day at home is the perfect excuse to read that textbook you’ve been avoiding or start that essay due in a few days. While it’s not necessarily the most fun option, sometimes getting your stuff done can feel even more rewarding than finishing that show on Netflix you’ve been binging.
Clean up your space
Even though spending the day cleaning isn’t the most exciting thought, it’s an essential one. If you’ve put off doing your laundry, changing your sheets or just straightening things up, take the rainy day to get the boring stuff out of the way. That way when the sun comes out again, you don’t have to spend the day inside cleaning stuff up! If you feel like being productive, start an organizational project. Decluttering and organizing your space can be relaxing, and it can help you feel more prepared for the days ahead.
Rainy days don’t have to be boring. While these are just some fun ideas that you can do by yourself or with friends, there are tons of other enjoyable activities perfect for the next time it pours in State College, which will probably be pretty soon.
Tweet us, @VALLEYmag, and tell us about your favorite way to spend a rainy day!
