Anyone in the UK will tell you that the weather is unpredictable – and that’s why we grumble about it so much! Take this summer which has been colder and wetter than most and ended with Storm Lilian forcing festival stages to close and leaving 63,000 homes without power.
With even more rainy days on the horizon as we move into autumn, make sure your home is a haven with plenty of indoor activities you can do to pass the time, alone or with friends and family.
- Games and puzzles
Test your logic – and your patience! – with games and puzzles, either solo or against others.
Traditional board games are always a crowd-pleaser, or you can try internet-based games which range from quick and easy online bingo to multi-player video games with absorbing graphics. If you fancy a break from devices, grab a newspaper and head to the puzzle page for crosswords, codewords and sudokus.
- Cooking or baking
Put some music on and dance around your kitchen as it fills with delicious aromas – there’s nothing more uplifting to do on a rainy day at home! Plus you’ll get a mouthwatering meal out of it.
Bake some sweet treats like brownies or biscuits, experiment with a new recipe or try your hand at a classic comfort food dish to warm you from the inside out.
- TV or movie marathon
Sometimes you just need to sit back and veg out to replenish your energy levels! Make the most of the bad weather and settle on the sofa for an extended marathon of your favourite films and TV shows.
Prop yourself up with plenty of pillows so you can find a comfortable position for the viewing session and add a cosy throw to stop your feet getting cold.
- Arts and crafts
Exercise your creativity with an arts and crafts session. If you’ve got the materials ready, the options are endless!
Preserve your treasured memories in a scrapbook, sticking in physical photographs and souvenirs from your adventures. You can theme this to a holiday or a relationship or create one for the year. Alternatively, be practical with your crafting and fashion useful things for the home such as painted flowerpots, mosaic or rope mirror frames and woven coasters.
- Reading and writing
When was the last time you curled up with a good book and lost yourself in another world? A rainy day is the perfect opportunity to switch off and retreat into a written refuge.
You could experiment with writing yourself such as jotting down little poems or journalling. This can be an effective way to work through problems and difficult emotions and is an excellent form of self-care.
- Audio entertainment
Reading not your thing? Why not opt for an audiobook instead and have someone read it to you? Listening to podcasts is also rewarding, letting you learn about the things you love in little snippets that are easily digestible.