You had plans for a great day out and about.. but the weather man was wrong (again). There aren’t sunny skies, only heavy clouds full of rain. Instead of being discouraged, just pivot. There are plenty of fun things you can do when the weather isn’t looking good.
This post is a little bit different than a lot of my other ones, but life isn’t just about improving. It’s also about having fun. I call these rainy day ideas for adults – because when you search for ideas you get a lot of info for kids. But adults can get bummed out by a rainy day too!
I like to think of these as little dates but that doesn’t mean you need a significant other to go on one! Romance is not required. This could be a friend date, or even a solo date. Taking yourself on a date is a great way to show yourself some self-love.
These 23 different rainy day ideas for adults range from staying in to going out. Feel free to use the menu below to jump to whichever one sparks the most interest for you first!
Quick Access
Indoor Picnic
Indoor picnics are awesome because you don’t have to worry about the weather. You also don’t have to worry about any hot foods getting cold while on your way to a destination.
Pull out your pillows and blankets and get comfy. It can be a fun and different way to enjoy a meal. I mean, staying in is the new going out.
You can set the scene and go as simple or fancy as you want.
Card Games
There are so many different card games. From Go-Fish to Poker to Solitaire.
Playing card games is actually good for your brain. It can help improve your memory and thinking skills.
There are several card games that you can play solo, but it’s better to play together if you can.
DIY and Crafting
There’s something satisfying about using your own two hands to create something. If you don’t take your crafting too seriously, you can have a lot of fun and ease some stress.
DIY projects are also great opportunities to learn new skills or techniques. Crafting things yourself can sometimes save you cash and can also save in waste if you’re recycling the materials you’re using.
Not to mention what you create will be entirely unique and unlike anything you could buy at a store.
Bake or Cook
Cooking and baking stimulates all of your senses. You can choose to follow exact recipes, or get creative and experiment. Either way you’ll end up creating something that is (hopefully) delicious!
You might even find that cooking is therapeutic, as many people do.
Of course, like any skill, cooking takes practice. If you’re a beginner, go for beginner recipes.
Movie Marathon
If you don’t want to go out into the rain you can make the most of it by catching up on all those movies you’ve been meaning to watch.
There are so many different movies that you could marathon. Almost to the point of anyone’s taste.
I’m going to leave a few suggestions for your rainy day movie marathon: Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, Indiana Jones, The Avengers or maybe Star Wars.
Documentary and Discuss
Looking for something a little more intellectual? Documentaries are great because they can expose you to some pretty important information that you might not have otherwise known.
Besides providing facts, they can also open your mind to new perspectives and different points of view.
Watching a documentary with someone then discussing it is one of my favorite rainy day ideas for adults because deep discussions not only help us understand the views of others, but also help us to better understand our own beliefs. They can also help us form deeper bonds and stronger relationships with the person we discuss things with.
If you don’t have someone to discuss the documentary with, reflect on it instead.
Yoga
Yoga can be a great lower impact exercise. Regularly practicing yoga can help improve your flexibility, balance and strength.
Yoga is also a good way to practice some mindfulness. This is one of the best rainy day ideas for adults because doing yoga with someone else can be a good way to help you stay motivated.
Puzzles
Doing puzzles is supposed to activate both sides of your brain, but also relax you.
Of course to reap the benefits you need to actually enjoy focusing on details and solving puzzles. There are so many different kind of puzzles you can do as well from jigsaw to crosswords.
Doing puzzles can help you decrease your anxiety, but it could also have the opposite effect. These rainy day ideas for adults aren’t about forcing yourself to enjoy something that you don’t – they’re about making the most of the time you have while you can’t be outside.
Indoor Photoshoot
One of the best things about indoor photoshoots is that they’re guaranteed to be private.
I am a firm believer in natural lighting, but sometimes that just can’t be achieved. With an indoor photoshoot you can manipulate the lighting to your liking as well.
With timers and bluetooth remotes, you don’t need partner to take great pictures – even with your phone.
Videogames
I think this is the best of the rainy day ideas for adults, but I admit that I am bias. I really enjoy videogames, but I understand not everyone does.
The great thing about videogames is that they can be single player or multiplayer, but enjoyable either way. Some video games can actually be good for your brain. Of course if you like videogames they’re fun.
But even studies show playing videogames can also speed up your response times, boost your memory and improve your attention.
Don’t have a gaming system? There are plenty of game apps available for both Apple and Android devices!
Build a Pillowfort
You probably haven’t made a pillowfort in years. But getting comfy in an adult pillowfort can help you reduce some of your anxiety and stress levels.
Use pillows, sheets and comforters to create a nice space for yourself to get cozy in. Add some twinkle lights and go for the full experience.
Day in Bed
Spend all day snuggled under your sheets. You don’t need as partner to make this enjoyable. Self pleasure has been shown to reduce stress, help you sleep better and improve your self-esteem.
Tarot Cards
Using tarot cards has been an art for centuries. There have been references to them as far back as the 1440s!
You can take the art of reading tarot cards as seriously (or not) as you want. Even if you don’t believe they have any sort of powers, doing a tarot card reading can still be fun.
Tarot also doesn’t have to require other people, you can read your own cards.
I subscribe to the idea that tarot cards are merely tools to help you get in touch with your intuition. They don’t predict the future but they can help give some insight to your feelings.
Pretend Power Outage
I’m talking about rainy day ideas for adults, not stormy day ideas, so this idea isn’t for when the power is actually out.
Sometimes we just need to completely unplug to connect to either ourselves or eachother. When things get digital we often get distracted.
For your “power outage”, you’ll want to light some candles, maybe get out some board games, instruments, conversation cards or whatever else you might use that isn’t electronic.
Declutter
Most of us have a lot more italics things than we actually need or use. Can you relate to that?
The answer is not to get a storage space. The answer is to let go of the excess.
Clutter gives us anxiety. That’s why we love looking at those Pinterest perfect rooms. Letting go of things doesn’t necessarily mean that you throw them away. You can gift, donate or recycle appropriately.
You’ll feel so much better with all of the space you clear!
Listen to the Rain
Sometimes just listening to the rain can be a peaceful experience. The sounds can help relax our overstimulated brains.
There’s a reason a lot of meditations include rain sounds. Listening to the rain while outside, but under shelter, can be especially nice.
This is because rain produces a lot of negative ions. Negative ions have been show to have some mental benefits, but the evidence is not scientifically complete despite studies.
Paint and Sip
Places where you can have paint and sip parties have been popping up all over.
But you don’t necessarily need to go out anywhere to have fun. You can stage your own in the comfort of your own home – but of course, you’ll have to provide all of the supplies.
A little bit of unwinding can help open some creative channels, you just don’t want to take it too far of course.
Fondue
Fondue is amazing and by doing it at home you can customize everything.
Online, fondue pots for home are pretty readily available and you can go for savory cheese or sweet chocolate.
You can create your most delicious experience and experiment with different flavors.
Take the time to indulge and maybe even to share. Fondue is sure to empress and sometimes only takes a single candle.
Bowling
Bowling can be enjoyed by almost any age. It can even be enjoyed when you aren’t very good at it, like me.
But if you’re going bowling with someone else, you should make sure that the person is a good sport. If you don’t know, it’s likely you’ll find out with something competitive like this.
Of course you could always just play against yourself and work on your skills.
Billiards
Playing pool is another of the best rainy day ideas for adults. Not only can playing pool (or billiards) be fun and challenging, it also helps with your hand-eye coordination.
While you wouldn’t say playing pool is really a physical sport, you can actually tone your body by playing. You have to lean stretch and bend to make certain shots happen.
You also have to calculate your shots, aiding in critical thinking skills.
Museum
Museums are great places to explore that are almost exclusively indoors. Some museums may be free, others may cost.
Museums are a great way to learn about different cultures and forms of art. You may find yourself inspired to think in different ways than you had before.
Museums also frequently have special exhibits that change, so it could be worth visiting them more than once.
Aquarium
The ocean is an almost magical space. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, yet the majority of the ocean is unexplored.
While visiting the local aquarium you can view some marine life and learn a few things.
It’s also a great opportunity to connect with the aquatic side of nature as well as spark your imagination.
Cafe
There’s not many things cozier on a rainy day than your favorite hot beverage. The atmosphere of a cafe can be even better than drinking your coffee at home.
The entire place is usually filled with the smells of freshly brewed coffee and maybe even some freshly baked goods. Sitting at a cafe just watching the rain can be a great way to unwind.
Bring along a book or bring along a friend.
Rainy days can be seen as a burden or as an opportunity. It’s all about your mindset.
I hope these rainy day ideas for adults inspire you to make the most of your next rainy day. Let me know which of these was your favorite in a comment below!
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