Are you looking for things to do? Things to entertain yourself? The proverbial activities for a rainy day? These days I could certainly use some stay-at-home schemes to stimulate my brain, pump up my positivity, and bolster my busyness factor to make the hours pass. You, too?
(PG-13) Adult Activities for a Rainy Day
Although I’m rarely bored, when confined to a small space for days on end, I have to rev up my Idea Machine to beat back the blues. While I’m generally content to consume good journalism and a slate of favorite films, a steady diet of current events (and Bette Davis) gets old. Likewise, my usual reading and writing habits.
So, I’ve put together a list of 14 cool things to do when you’re hanging around your home and need to entertain yourself. Please do expand this list with your ideas.
1. (Not Your Usual) Movies and Books
Sure, movies and books are an obvious rainy-day go-to. But how about diving into something more exotic than your standard fare? Basic cable and a host of streaming services offer foreign language films, concerts, stand-up comedy or documentaries. Change things up! And yes, you can learn to watch movies with subtitles.
Another option: Lose yourself in a great read, something meaty and immersive. If Tolstoy’s War and Peace or Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past isn’t your thing, check out these bestseller lists, and consider transporting yourself to a universe beyond your daily reality. And don’t forget about online book clubs and chats. When searching out social interaction without physical proximity, for those who love to read and discuss, online book clubs are the ideal twofer. Book Riot recommends these.
2. Brain Games (Without Using Google)
Brain games? I enjoyed one yesterday on Facebook, courtesy of an old friend. (Thank you, Audrey.) The gist: Use the first letter of your last name to name items such as food, a mood, an animal, a first name… My W list: water crackers, wistful, walrus, Winston… and so on. A variation on naming that I like: Listing the name of an artist, actor, or musician for each letter of the alphabet. If you prefer, do the same for celebrities, historical figures, or politicians.
3. Old-School Jigsaw Puzzles
My dad was a gregarious man who typically spent recreational hours on the golf course. Occasionally, he would sit quietly working on a jigsaw puzzle spread out on a card table in the living room. I would join in. I loved it. I know I have a jigsaw puzzle tucked away somewhere. I just may dig it out.
4. Cooking
Is cooking a chore for you? During my marriage, it was for me, albeit less so in my single motherhood years. (As my boys learned to cook (and pretty well!), thankfully, my kitchen duties lightened.)
These days, I cook infrequently (salads, salads, homemade soups, salads) and I bake at the holidays. That’s it. But I know that baking or cooking is both relaxing and creative for many. So if you’re happy in the kitchen, why not explore the ingredients in your pantry or fridge? Why not experiment?
5. Visit an Online Art Gallery or Museum
I have long been a fan of viewing art online. So many galleries! So many artist portfolios! Do indulge.
ArtNet is a resource I’ve used for more than a decade to poke through far-off galleries and drill down into the works of particular artists. Artsy is another site with much to enjoy. (I read their feed several times a week.) Likewise, a breadth of works are available on museum sites including MoMA (NYC), SFMoMA (San Francisco), and yes, my taste is modern and contemporary. The point: You can savor art, whatever your taste, from the comfort of your couch.
6. Knitting! Needlepoint! Quilting!
I don’t knit. (Might be fun to learn!) I don’t needlepoint. (Might be fun to learn!) I used to quilt — designing and piecing the top has always been my favorite part of the process — I reacquainted myself with this pastime a few months back and I’m doing so again. SO relaxing. SO much enjoyment in the colors, patterns, and tactile nature of the fabrics.
Incidentally, there are gorgeous examples of quilts on Instagram. You will be amazed at the beauty you will find.
7. Painting or Drawing (Self-Portraits?)
A few days ago I bumped into someone engaged in a stay-at-home self-portrait activity on Instagram. @aaronkinnane – check it out! Now, I used to be able to draw decently, but I’m woefully out of practice. Nonetheless, I picked up a pencil and sketched for an hour. I was stunned that so much time had passed!
Whether or not you decide to offer up any drawing or painting for social media sharing, do think about picking up a brush or a pencil and have at it. Art — making it, looking at it — is wondrously healing.
8. Fold Away Your Cares… Origami (and Other Crafts)
Anyone for Japanese paper folding? I remember doing Origami in grade school, don’t you? Have you seen the remarkable objects you can make when you become adept at creasing and folding? Isn’t working with your hands soothing and meditative?
I’m going to try this origami dragon as shown on Youtube. In the same vein as origami, “making things” reduces stress, nourishes the spirit, and is, simply put, fun. Try these rainy-day crafts, solo or with your kids.
9. Indoor Exercise
When you’re indoors for days and days and days, cabin fever sets in, big time. As this Livestrong post explains, keep moving! Indoor exercise – whatever you can manage — is a boost for the bod and the brain.
Since I don’t have so much as a hula hoop, much less any sort of gym equipment at home, lest I consider raising my fork to my mouth my cardio, I’ve resorted to a routine of “hall walking” as I did during last summer’s 100-degree weeks. Other ideas? Juggling! Diabolo! Jump rope!
10. Word Games, Card Games, Gaming (“Real” or Digital)
Maybe it’s Scrabble. Maybe it’s Solitaire. Maybe it’s gaming. All variations of games that help you unwind may be just what the doctor ordered when staying home — and staying put.
Certainly, you can play digital versions or pull out the Real World packs, bags or boards. While many games require an in-the-room partner, you can adapt those that do — imaginary friends? — and share your competitions with cohorts online.
11. Online (Window) Shopping
Online shopping is Good Clean Fun for some of us. Yes, you can online window shop as well. Sure, I gawk at the designer shoes — Choos and Manolos especially — shoes as art form! I also browse the latest fashion editorials and watch runway videos. For me, fashion spreads in all their flavors are a visual feast.
12. Strolling Down Memory Lane
Browsing old photographs and documents is an immersive activity, whether organizing real-world pictures or reviewing digital files. Recently, going through a box, not only did I unearth images from the 1950s and 60s, but I found two ration books from 1945 (amazing!) and one of my mother’s elementary school report cards.
So consider a trip down memory lane thanks to treasured love letters, Polaroids from an earlier era, and tucked-away images of your grandkids, your high school friends, even the old boyfriend or girlfriend with whom you parted ways… pleasantly.
13. Take Pictures!
Take pictures or video clips with your device — around your room, apartment, or house; in the yard or through the window; using digital effects courtesy of your favorite apps. Play, post, share! Keep in mind — the images you take and store now may become the cherished pictures and clips for your next generations, not unlike those you come across, as have I, in an old box.
14. Writing… Music, Stories, Letters, Posts
Perhaps this goes without saying, but downtime — especially enforced indoors downtime on your own — is the perfect opportunity for writing songs, stories, letters, blogs, or posts of all sorts and engaging in conversation that follows.
Critical is this last element. Engagement. Too much isolation is detrimental to human health. Talk to others. And listen to others. Conversations of all sorts are a source of joy, reassurance, and critical connection.
Your suggestions?
You May Also Enjoy
While I am all for the idea that humanity could use this time wisely so we collectively come out of this with a bit more polish than when we went in, I am a realist and expect that a lot of drinking and binge watching television will be how many use their time! It was not so long ago that adult colouring books were all the rage. Did they all get tossed out when Marie Kondo then came along as the subsequent craze? I do have one which I tackled only a few times during a particularly stressful episode in recent years, so is in otherwise pristine condition. Only time will tell if I resort to it as my everyday list of projects has not gone away! I will, however, try to address the many drafts sitting in my blog.
Adult coloring books, yes. Good one! Oh, the mention of those drafts. I have hundreds (no kidding), and at least 50 that are 90% finished. You would think I would just put in that last hour or two of work and press publish!
Hmmmm. I will if you will.
I want YOU to add SOUP to your REPERTOIRE! IT IS SO EASY AND SO GOOD FOR YOU!
Head to MOST LOVELY THINGS BLOG………. go back a few posts like 4?? TOMATO SOUP IS DEVINE AND SO EASY! Cindy Hattersley has one too with Butternut squash and peppers…… LOVELY its a little TASTE of MEXICO! Link for her will be in same post. Then Mary Ann did a pasta with sausage….. I don’t think you eat meat but do you eat Tuna fish……… I have the simplest sauce that is so good!
ADD can of tuna and tomato sauce, capers,olives,lemon juice, Italian parsley……. DUMP ALL INTO A BOWL cover with olive oil let sit on counter all day long. Cook penne pasta and EAT!!!!!!!
PROMISE ME YOU WILL TRY IT?!!
XX
So many suggestions, thank you! And you just made me very very hungry.