What do you do on rainy days?

[Cornwallintherain]

Just that really. Looking out the window. It's my day off and we've had rain ALL day and all day yesterday too.

I've really suffered with SAD this Winter and last Winter. I need to prepare in advanced for Winter 2023.

But what do you do on gloomy rainy days / weekends? With or without kids.

We don't have a lot of indoor things in Cornwall and there's only so many times you can visit Eden and the Museum.

I have baked a cake and went out for a rainy run. Its so dreary.

Potter's wheel and a bag of clay. A plastic tablecloth will protect your surfaces. When the clay dries you can spend another rainy morning painting it.

I've had a day off today and feel as if I should have done more ... I went for a walk came home had lunch, did about an hour's housework and wasted the afternoon watching you tube videos

We find Cornwall tricky in the winter months too due to lack of indoor things.
Our go to normally is to go for a mooch around trago to see who can find the weirdest/stupid/ugly thing.

Anxiously look out of the window longing for the blooming sun. I live by coast in the countryside; it’s horrible in the drizzle - muddy and misty. I can’t wait for winter to be over this year and it’s lingering like a guest that’s outstayed their welcome 😅

THIS is my new hobby 😂

I often go in there and feel like it's stock from the 90s.

Now this sounds ideal. X

This sounds blissful

Spend time with friends and family. The winters can get so boring after new years.

I make a big 'nest' on the sofa with my duvet and pillows. I put my SAD lamp on (it came from Argos, tops up your quota of daylight in winter). I eat Maltesers, make myself a coffee and read while cuddling the cat. I also daydream and make plans for when it is sunny again

Definitely getting a SAD lamp and doing this!

I have purchased a SAD lamp from Argos. How often should I use it?

On my own I will knit, crochet, sew, read, catch up on some tv and bake. I enjoy organising a big cupboard too. I will put an audio book on and take everything out, have a good clean and put everything back; bliss!
With little ones we always enjoyed an audio book while building Harry Potter lego, or that wonderful coloured air clay. I home educated so most days were full of some sort of project. We always snuggled up and watched BBC’s Coast for our geography lesson after lunch if the weather was rubbish.

Watch YouTube videos of sunny meadows or canal boat journeys.

I also read out loud from my favourite books (if I’m on my own). I know it sounds weird, but try it. I read P. G. Wodehouse, Wilde’s Dorian Gray, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Dickens, etc. It’s the best therapy I know.

Ha ha this made me smile that we aren’t the only strange ones doing this. We have found some absolutely crackers items, stuff that you would only find in Trago!

I'd never heard of mumsnet when my sons where little, and having got out of an abusive relationship without a penny to my name or anything from my ex, jumping in puddles was free and guaranteed to make my boys happy!!!

12 & 10 now.

We tried going out on the bikes the other year. They had theirs and I borrowed one. I fell off and broke my elbow.

We stay in when it's wet!

I value "duvet days", chill days, time at home, appreciating my home. I let my daughter know it's okay to have these days too.

Candles, a movie, snuggle up on the couch, maybe a takeaway? Teas, coffees, hot chocolates, board games, reading, and family time.

You don't have to go out type of thing, you can enjoy the home you work hard to pay for type of thing.

I love to embrace the cosiness of being indoors in the rain. Baking, reading, watching films and tv but I do need to get out too.
Library, shopping centre, cinema, bowling, shops (especially diy shops), parks and puddles and visiting family were all things we did when dc were young.

I put my SAD lamp on each day at dusk and leave it on for a couple of hours. They tend to be very bright, so I avoid it being in my direct eyeline.

Walk dog, which used to be quite miserable! But had to be done, come home, wash dog, dry dog, give dog treat, bath, fire on, wine, nice meal, film…. When I was single/dating!

Now… very short dog walk, stand in park with child, until freezing, home, bath, fire, food, cleaning then bed! Possibly a kids film!

Sometimes I put my waterproofs on and go out in it, other times I snuggle down with Netflix and the log burner. But mostly I just get on with household chores if the kids are at school.

Also Cornwall.

Was off today without kids, so went to the gym this morning for a workout and swim, did a little bit of online gaming on the sofa after. Watched latest episode of You on Netflix while eating lunch. Batch cooked some meals for work this weekend, and spent the rest of the day alternately reading, and my latest hobby painting by numbers. It's very addictive!

Love a me day when I get the chance!

We got family membership at a gym that has a pool, so that on rainy weekends we Can take the kids swimming as often as we like. Tag team so that we each get a workout or a class in too so happy days all round. Spend a lot less on soft play/ trampolining and the obligatory cafe spends now

@Notparticularlyslappable I love swimming. Where do you go? I don't enjoy lane swimming so the local Better Leisure pool isn't ideal for me. And we don't have much else.

I'd happily pay membership for a private pool though 😊

Thanks everyone! Some of these posts have made me feel warm and fuzzy. Some have made me appreciate how lucky I am. And some have given me great ideas on hobbies.

I really struggle with reading but the answer is so obviously Audiobooks! I need to sort a subscription. I love learning and escapism so I think audiobooks could be my new thing x

Go swimming

We're in London and have under-5s, so I find it pretty easy to find stuff to do. Soft play, museums, galleries, leisure centres (soft play, swimming, trampolines), stay and play, role play centre, play cafes, theatres. Rarely stay at home as it's just easier to get them out the house and doing stuff.

We did the puddle jumping thing only during lockdowns and there was no other option! Would never do it now there are more civilised days out to be had! The only times we've had duvet days were when my dc were actually ill and couldn't manage to do anything except watch Disney films.