Rainy Day Recharge
Skye Freeman
While Spring excites feelings of hope and happiness in reminiscence of flowers in bloom, birds chirping and warm sunny days, it’s not surprising if one regresses to feeling unmotivated or gloomy when the sky fills with darkness and rain clouds roll in. If you encounter such a day when you have nothing to do, rather than rotting in bed or doom-scrolling to stall, here are some rainy-day, hopefully tech-minimal activities to help you recharge intentionally.
By Nicole Nguyen
Rainy-day recipes:
Banana Pancakes - Inspired by a favorite song of mine, Banana Pancakes (2005) by Jack Johnson, the writer and singer of the Curious George theme song, Upside Down (2006). It’s the perfect rainy day ditty, something you can play on repeat while making your own banana pancakes. To make them even better, top your pancakes with whipped cream, chocolate chips and sprinkles.
Snack plate - I know, I know, this is an unoriginal idea. However, there’s no problem with a fun assortment of snacks, whether with cheese and crackers, fruit, nuts, desserts or other foods you can nibble on while sitting by a window or completing rainy day activities.
Soup or stew - There’s nothing better than a hot, comforting bowl of soup/stew, that’ll be sure to nourish you on a rainy day. They can be made with pretty much anything you’d find in a pantry or fridge. Some personal favorites are gumbo, potato & beef, pozole, white bean & sausage, phở, harira, and, of course, chicken noodle.
Rainy-day crafts:
Create a collage of a memory or a scene that means something to you
Practice sketching objects around your house or outdoors
Go for a walk without any music, simply listen to the sounds outdoors
Write something, whether poetry, a short story, or a journal entry
Make your own mini zine
Read a copy of JELLi magazine
Fold a unique origami piece
Try out a unique makeup look, even better if it’s a new look you’ve been hesitant to try
Make cards for friends or family’s upcoming birthdays
Complete brain games, such as sudoku, crosswords, chess, puzzles, etc.
Sticker-ify your belongings
Listen to a music album beginning to end. (Recommendations: Norah Jones’ Come Away with Me; Miracle Musical’s Hawaii: Part II; HUS’s Baby Love; 800 Cherries’ Romantico; Yann Tiersen’s Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain)
Rainy-day self-care:
Clean out your closet, try on items you’ve not worn in a while to determine whether you wish to keep or donate them.
Go through your camera roll; photos pile up fast, and can cause a dent in your storage. It’s a tedious but necessary task, and can be a nice trip down memory lane.
Spend time without electronics by reading a book, article, blog, etc.
Incorporate a little movement into your day, whether through yoga, pilates, calisthenics, strength training, dance, HIIT, or any other energizing workout.
Watch your favorite childhood tv shows or movies.
