You know that old saying: “April showers bring May flowers.” Rainy days give such cozy vibes. I’m a homebody. There’s nothing like curling up on the couch with a hot beverage or book when it’s pouring outside. But you may feel bored or sluggish during a rainstorm at times. If you’re unsure what to do, use these rainy day activities for adults as your inspiration…from a Midwestern lady writing this list on a cloudy April day!
Right now, my favorite things to do while it’s raining are to play video games, cuddle with my puppy, and read books. I just finished That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon. It was such a comfy and hilarious read (with quite a bit of spice). I’m also forever a Stardew Valley girlie. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I named Linus after one of its main characters.
I also enjoy a good movie on a rainy day, especially a horror or suspense film!
Stuck on what to do when it’s pouring? Try out any of these rainy day activities for adults.
39 Rainy Day Activities for Adults:
1. Build a blanket fort.
Who says adults can’t build blanket forts?
This brings me back to childhood. Grab a bunch of blankets and pillows to make the comfiest fort! There are plenty of tutorials online like this one from wikiHow. Aside from simply relaxing in your fort, why not watch a movie or curl up with a good book on a rainy day?
2. Play video games.
Alejandro and I picked up Stardew Valley again after the newest update. I love my new meadowlands farm and plan on marrying Elliott (again). Yes, I’m living my cottagecore fantasy.
It goes without saying that if you’re looking for a cozy video game to play, I’m always going to recommend Stardew Valley to new gamers. I’ve also heard good things about Mail Time, Venba, and Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.
3. Read a book.
Reading is one of the ultimate rainy day activities for adults. Thanks to BookTok, I have tons of books on my TBR list. But the one I’m looking forward to most is The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I read Mexican Gothic by her and that was a chilling page-turner, so I look forward to checking out more of her work!
4. Make a comforting soup.
Truly what can beat a comforting bowl of soup on a rainy day? Not much in my eyes! These soup recipes from Once Upon a Chef all look delicious…and will warm you up when it’s chilly outside. If you’re not a soup person, another great choice for dinner could be stew or chili. Bonus points if it’s in a crockpot, so you can enjoy the aroma from the couch as it cooks!
5. Listen to the rain.
Listening to the rain is peaceful. It’s an awesome mindfulness practice to help you stay in the present moment. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the sounds of nature.
6. Needlework.
You have lots of options when it comes to needlework! Just to name a few…embroidery, cross stitch, crocheting, knitting, sewing, and felting. I’ve heard that cross stitch is the easiest one to learn. This is a nice beginner’s guide to help you start with cross stitch. That’s my suggestion, but try out different forms of needlework and see what you like best!
7. Have a movie night.
Movie marathons at home are the epitome of a cozy night in. Plus, there are endless amounts of movies to watch, whether you’re looking for a classic or something new. IMDb has a list of the best movies of all time. Alejandro and I recently watched Hamilton and that was amazing. As far as comforting watches…we loved How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days and Sleepless in Seattle.
8. Woodworking.
If you’re looking for a big project, try woodworking! Woodworking is an investment and can be quite expensive. But if you’ve ever thought about making your own cabinets or furniture, this would be the perfect hobby for you. I like this woodworking 101 guide from Lowe’s because it gives you a lot of useful tips and tricks for beginners.
9. Check out an escape room or interactive game!
This is for all my fellow nerds out there! If you’re ever in the Wisconsin Dells area, I HIGHLY recommend Wizard Quest. It’s an interactive team building fantasy game. Alejandro and I went there recently with friends for our joint bachelor/bachelorette party.
Basically, you go through different realms full of quests to help mythical creatures. There are secret passageways, slides, and mirror mazes. It was immersive and reminded me a lot of Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Games like Wizard Quest are one of the best rainy day activities for adults and kids alike if you’re looking for a fun family outing!
Alejandro in the Air Realm at Wizard Quest!
10. Color.
Coloring is calming for the mind. It’s nice to sit down and focus on creating something. So if you’re feeling overstimulated, try coloring in the quiet without any background sounds! You can also play music or a podcast in the background. I’m a fan of this Romantic Country coloring book by Eriy. She created a fictional town called Cocot and her artwork is stunning!
11. Build a Lego set.
Let out your inner architect with a Lego set!
This Bonsai Tree set is beautiful. It’s also a fun way to pass the time on a rainy day at home. The model is specifically for adults, so it’s more challenging to build. I highly recommend this model or something similar if you’re looking for a high-quality Lego set!
12. Send your loved one a card.
We’re all used to getting junk mail and credit card offers in our mailbox. Why not make someone smile and send them a card instead? I love it when friends and family send me Christmas cards or letters. It’s the best feeling!
13. Do a puzzle.
Jigsaw puzzles are one of the best rainy day activities for adults because they are relaxing. Now, I will say I tend to be a 30-year-old grandma. But working on a puzzle with a soothing cup of tea sounds like the perfect way to spend an evening at home!
14. Visit the library!
Explore the library and pick out a book that seems interesting to you! You can also see if they have any book clubs or upcoming events in your neighborhood. I recently found Hoopla which lets you stream audiobooks, movies, and ebooks for free. All you need is a library card to sign up!
15. Bake something yummy.
Baking is one of the quintessential rainy day activities for adults! What’s better than the scent of a sweet treat filling up your kitchen? I’ve been on a lemon kick recently and want to try this lemon cake recipe!
16. Jump in puddles.
Truly take in the rainy day and jump in puddles! We’ve all done this as a kid. And I think there’s nothing wrong with jumping in puddles as an adult. It’s perfectly okay to be silly and connect with your inner child!
17. Write down your favorite recipes in a journal.
This is a project I want to take on hopefully sometime this year.
I asked for a blank recipe book last Christmas and my mom got it for me. I want to start writing down recipes from my family and Alejandro’s. The hope is that one day I can pass the recipes down to our siblings (and children if we choose to have them). I know a few of my grandma’s recipes, but I’d like to learn more.
If you love to cook or similarly enjoy sentimental stuff, I think a project like this would be amazing for you!
18. Play board games.
The perfect activity if you are inviting friends over to your place!
A couple of our friends are huge board game lovers. They’ve introduced me to games I’ve never heard of before and reminded me how much I enjoy classics like Scrabble. Recently, Alejandro and I have been loving Connect 4. He wins almost every time (ugh!) but it’s still a lot of fun for me and nostalgic.
19. Play music.
Sing along and dance to music when it’s pouring! Beyoncé’s new album Cowboy Carter is SO good. I’ve already listened to it quite a few times since she released it. My favorite songs are 16 Carriages, Tyrant, Bodyguard, Riverdance, and Daughter. Totally recommend the album if you’re looking for something to cry and dance to all in one body of work!
20. Learn calligraphy.
This blog post is a good place to start for beginners. I like that they made a video to accompany the blog post. It’s helpful because we don’t all learn the same way. You can also try out a workbook to learn modern calligraphy.
21. Cuddle with your pet.
Shoutout to my pup, Linus. He is such a loveable little guy and cuddles up on the couch with me and Alejandro in the evenings. This is after we sufficiently tire him out with walks and playing fetch of course.
I mean are you kidding…look at that cute face! I call him the prince because the world revolves around him, obviously. 👑
Linus being cute!
22. Take an “everything” shower.
If you have the energy, turn your normal shower into an “everything shower.” For example: exfoliate, apply a hair oil, and put on your favorite body moisturizer. Whatever makes you feel most pampered! To summarize, make it a spa day at home for yourself.
23. Nap.
Take the most glorious nap in the middle of the day. Hopefully, you will feel refreshed when you wake up!
24. Look at old photo albums.
What are some of your core memories? Look back at them fondly by going through old photos you treasure. Note: seeing them may sometimes feel bitter-sweet, so make sure you’re in the right headspace!
25. Make a grocery list.
Plan out your groceries for the next week or two.
Make a list while you’re chilling at home. It will help you get ahead of schedule and you’ll have something productive on your checklist if you’re feeling bored.
26. Do a face mask.
Recently, someone recommended this clay mask to me by Innisfree. I have it on my wishlist at the moment. My skin is super sensitive, but I’d like to try it sometime soon. I like that it has good reviews and isn’t too expensive. It’s supposed to help with minimizing pores.
27. Look up fancy houses on Realtor.
One of my favorite pastimes! My friends and I love going on Realtor or Zillow and looking up houses we could never afford. Sometimes, they will be stunning and we’ll daydream about living there. Other times, we’re cracking up because they look gauche. Cue Zillow Gone Wild!
28. Drink a cup of tea.
This might seem basic, but who doesn’t crave a warm beverage on a rainy day? I’m a tea, coffee, and hot chocolate girlie. Please give me all of the comforting drinks!
29. Sing karaoke!
Alejandro’s uncle brought his speaker and microphones to our bachelor/bachelorette party. That was EPIC. We were singing everything from Lady Gaga to TLC to Evanescence. Now I need a karaoke machine ASAP because it was so much fun. I’m in an apartment, so sadly it won’t be feasible just yet…but hey there’s always karaoke bars!
30. Make aesthetic cocktails.
Are you feeling fancy? Look up some aesthetically pleasing cocktail recipes and enjoy!
31. Go to an art gallery.
If you’re ever in Chicago, check out The Art Institute! There are a variety of art collections and events that you can enjoy with the whole family. On the other hand, if you want to be a tourist in your town, go support your local art galleries!
32. Study.
If you’re in school, a rainy day is the perfect time to study. Even if you’re not…what is a topic that intrigues you? Maybe it’s biology, French, botany, or computer science. Study it by taking a free course online, looking at videos, or going through a workbook.
33. Visit the museum.
There are so many types of museums to choose from….archeological, music, science, history, literary. The list goes on and on!
34. Paint figurines.
I thought these owl succulent pots were adorable! Are they a bit cheesy? Sure, but that’s what makes them fun!
35. Organize your closet.
Another great activity for a rainy day if you’re feeling productive! I’m writing this in April, so it’s perfect timing for a spring cleaning session. But of course, you can organize your closet and donate clothes any time of the year.
36. Call a friend.
Ask a friend if they’re up for a chat on the phone! However, if talking on the phone isn’t your thing, try Facetiming or sending voice messages.
37. Declutter your place.
This may be one of the more boring rainy day activities for adults. But it can be a satisfying chore. When decluttering, I like checking the fridge for anything expired, organizing my pantry, and puttering around for stuff to clean. Decluttering can be as low-effort or high-effort as you want it to be depending on your mood!
38. Gem mining!
I did this recently at a corn maze last year. It was a lot of fun and a good way to occupy time on a rainy day! You can use the gems as decor too, so that’s a bonus. They also sell gemstone kits online, which is convenient!
39. Join a Facebook group about your interests!
Lastly, join a group on Facebook! Life can be heavy sometimes. It’s nice to follow groups online that help to pick you up when you’re feeling down. When I’m having a rough day, I love looking at Tiny Tim’s Tiny Foster Family. They’re a non-profit foster blog that fosters kittens and cats. I mean, why wouldn’t you want adorable kittens on your timeline?
Of course, this is one example. Explore groups and see what interests you!
That’s it for today’s post. Hopefully this list gives you some inspiration. Even better if you discover it on a rainy day!
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Great ideas! I really don’t like rain, but spending a rainy day at home is the perfect excuse to cosy up and explore many different hobbies!
Thanks Juliette! Totally agree. It’s been pretty rainy where I live, so I’ve had time to catch up on some movies and TV series lol Thanks for reading!!