This weekend was especially cold and rainy, marking the end of warm summer afternoons. At the same time, it was one of the most relaxing weekends that I’ve had in a while, even though I worked for part of it. This got me thinking about some of my favourite things to do on cold rainy days…

1. Have a movie day… I know that this one might seem obvious, but I’m going to break it down further. There are two main types of movie days that I love to have – one where you snuggle up with a blanket and popcorn, and another where you watch some of your favourite movies while completing any tedious tasks that you have been putting off (eg. sewing buttons/hems, organising loose papers, etc.)
2. Go to the cinema to see a movie… this one’s pretty self explanatory – it’s warm in there and the movie treats are delicious.
3. Have a baking day… using the stove and oven always make me feel a bit warmer, plus there is the bonus of warm, freshly baked goods at the end (perhaps to go with idea 1)
4. Go for a walk…. I know that this idea might sound a bit crazy, given that the last thing you will probably want to do is go outside. However, it is it just drizzling outside… why not rug up in your warmest clothes and take an umbrella to go for a short stroll around the neighbourhood? You’ll feel refreshed and more awake afterwards.
5. Meet up with your friends for a coffee/brunch/lunch at a local cosy cafe where you can sit inside (bonus points if they have a wood-log fire inside!) Chances are that some of their plans may have been ruined by the weather, and they are looking for something else to do.
6. Rug up with a blanket next to the window at home with a book and a hot chocolate/tea/coffee. Sitting somewhere you can see and hear the rain makes it all the more comfy.
7. Have a warm bath & self-pamper day… it’s super relaxing and the bath will keep you warm for an extended period of time.
8. Hit up the gym… again, this one might seem like a weird idea, but in my experience people don’t tend to visit the gym on cold rainy days, so you get to use all of the equipment you like without any interruptions, or other people getting too close for comfort.
9. Go on a road trip – this idea is perhaps more appropriate for a drizzly day rather than a heavy downpour (that could get dangerous…) My favourite rainy day destinations are some of the villages around the outer suburbs of Melbourne – they usually have warm cafes with delicious home-made lunches.
10. Get creative – this is the perfect time to start a new project eg. scrap-booking, painting, drawing, etc. Or you might want to do something that you have been putting off such as sorting photos from your last holiday.

Do you like to do any of these things on rainy days? What do you usually get up to?