I am of the very firm belief that if anything—rain, hail, sleet, or snow—is coming down from the sky, there is absolutely no reason to be outside. Why would I subject myself to the elements like that? That said, I live for those kinds of days, especially a rainy day when I do nothing but stay inside. Whether it's curling up under my covers for hours or being sucked into some sort of TikTok rabbit hole, being a blob and appreciating how cozy you are when it's pouring outside is one of life's greatest joys.
Sometimes, though, if we're keeping it real, that might get a little old after a while. So, if you're looking for some actually fun and meaningful ways to pass the time while the sky cries, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got endless indoor rainy day activities just waiting for your perusal—30, to be exact. Looking for an excuse to whip up all those saved TikTok and Instagram recipes? Now's the time. Feeling like you want to finally try that new craft? We've got nothing but time. Don't want to change out of your sweats but still want to feel like you were productive? Oh, it's possible.
The best part? Almost all of the activities below can be done without leaving your house (see: the very first sentence of this story), and many can even be done with a loved one, whether right next to you or virtually. Keep scrolling for your new favorite indoor rainy day activity.
Try a new food trend.
You already know that TikTok is rife with new recipes and cooking techniques. So now's your chance to get in the kitchen and make something yummy.
Perfect your skincare routine.
If you just slap shit on your face without any rhyme or reason, maybe take this time to really give your visage the attention it deserves. That could mean making an appointment with a derm (getting your skin checked is always a good idea!), or just reading our guide to building a better routine.
Call your mom/dad/best friend/general loved one.
I know it can feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to talk to everyone that matters. So, if you've got some extra time on your hands, spend it hearing the voice of someone that makes you feel special. It can turn your whole week around.
Be your own barista.
News flash: You actually don’t need to pay $8 for a caffeinated beverage. But you do need to invest in a frother. Do some research (aka deep dives on TikTok) on how to replicate your favorite Starbucks drink, then get the tools and ingredients you need to dupe it up. Yes, you can make cold foam. I promise it's so easy and takes less than three minutes.
Give yourself an extravagant mani.
Got time to kill and nails so bare you can’t bear it? Put on your artist hat (beret?) and paint 10 little masterpieces. Fun nail stickers and press-ons absolutely count if you’ve got a shaky hand.
Break out the board games.
A good, classic board game will never not be fun…as long as you’re with fun people, of course. Looking for the next great party game? We made a list of the very best to get your hands on right n0w.
Do a big (virtual) grocery haul.
Thankfully we live in a world where you don’t actually have to go to the grocery store anymore. Load up an app like Shipt or Instacart and stock your kitchen the modern way—with a few clicks and delivery straight to your front door.
Start investing.
It's time to put your money where your mouth is. Commit to an afternoon of learning about the best ways to invest based on your age and financial status. We love the tips from Her First 100K—AKA Tori Dunlap—on TikTok!
Write a good old-fashioned love letter.
Grab a pen and paper and start waxing poetic about your favorite person. If you don’t have a partner, you can always write to a friend or your true soulmate (ahem, yourself).
Dye your hair.
Been thinking about dyeing your hair a new color for a while now? Or maybe just adding a fun streak or some subtle highlights? Go ahead, be spontaneous. If you hate it, you can always dye it back.
DIY a hair mask.
A rainy day is prime time to give your scalp the TLC it deserves. Lucky for you, we have a whole article full of DIY masks for all hair types.
Schedule those appointments you’ve been putting off.
Honestly, I’m hoping that if I write this down, I might convince myself to do it, too. Make a date with your doc, gyno, dentist, and hairdresser, and put them on your cal while the rain is coming down. Then check, check, check those to-dos off your list.
Reorganize a room in your house.
It’s crazy what a little ~restructuring~ can do to make a space feel brand new. Try moving your bed, couch, or dining table and see how it feels—if you hate it, you can always try again. Right this way, feng shui!
Master a good mocktail.
Whether you’re doing a dry month or are just sober curious, it never hurts to learn how to make a tasty mocktail. First step? Snag an alternative for your favorite alcohol—I love CleanCo’s spiritless tequilas, gins, and vodkas.
Put together a book bucket list.
If you don’t already have one going, start a list of must-read books. This way, you’ll (a) remember what memoir you’ve been meaning to curl up with when you find yourself at your local bookstore, and (b) be inspired to pick up a book instead of the remote on your next night off.
Get that inbox to zero.
Okay, okay—this isn’t the most fun idea, but it sure is satisfying. Read, delete, and unsubscribe until you’re down to zero emails in your inbox. Then pop the champagne.
Play makeup artist.
Channel your inner Pat McGrath and give yourself, or your friends, a full beat, then have them return the favor. Once you're both feeling like walking, talking fire emojis, stage a photo shoot and take some shots for the 'gram.
Try out new cocktail recipes.
Cocktails are always fun, no matter the weather. Whip up some new-to-you recipes—fancy glassware encouraged—and pretend you're at the most expensive bar in Paris. Espresso martini, anyone?
Have a spa day.
Up to you whether you want to splurge on an appointment at a bougie spa, or set up your own DIY sitch at home. Either way, a self-care day will leave you feeling all sorts of rejuvenated. Just slap on a hydrating face mask and let the pitter-patter of the rain act as your own personal white noise machine.
Sign up for a virtual (or in-person!) cooking class.
Doesn't matter if your skills are already Chopped-champion levels of gourmet, or if you barely know how to boil water. Cooking classes are all about making scrumptious food and then eating your concoctions, therefore they are the perfect invention for a rainy day. Airbnb has plenty of online cooking experiences to choose from, where you can learn from the best of the best and explore famous food cities, so I suggest starting there.
Finally organize your life.
If you're looking for a free activity to do with your roomie or live-in S.O., consider pulling a Marie Kondo and tackling all of the organizing and cleaning tasks you've had on your list for...forever. You could even make some money off of this endeavor if you put together a bag of clothes to sell to ThredUp or TheRealReal. If you decide to closet-dive with a glass of wine in hand, far be it from me to stop you.
Have a themed movie marathon.
Streaming a movie when the weather is gross is a classic option, but I suggest you kick it up a notch by choosing a theme. Blake Lively's entire body of work? Streaming it! Every movie Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have been in together? Hell yes. Only flicks about L.A., Paris, or spring break? Into it. The options are endless—you just have to get creative.
Bake something.
I'm talking cookies, brownies, cakes, and maybe a loaf of sourdough or two. Pull up a recipe you've had saved forever and preheat that oven!
Solve a puzzle.
As someone with a newfound appreciation for puzzles, trust me when I say that completing a 1,000-piece set can be more satisfying than...you know.
Plan your dream vacation.
You've been talking about taking a trip for a while now, so why not start planning today? Pour yourself a cup of coffee, open up your laptop, and plot out where you want to go, when you can hypothetically take off work, and how you'll make it work within your budget. We've got lots of wanderlust inspo here.
Get your sweat on.
Going for a run outside is certainly out of the question, but you can still get your heart pumping at a fun virtual class. Go ahead and treat yourself to one of those workouts in the Peloton app, Nike Training Club, or a good ol' YouTube workout.
Host a video game tournament.
If gaming is your thing, this one should speak your language. Hit up all your friends on a text and tell them that you're putting on this virtual gaming tourney. Since so many systems let you play without having to be in the same place, this will be a breeze to coordinate (for the most part...hopefully).
Meditate.
Our lives can feel like Overstimulation Station a lot of the time, so take advantage of a day stuck inside to find your zen. There are a ton of free, guided meditations available on YouTube, and also on apps like Calm and Headspace.
Do a wine tasting.
Gather a group and have each member bring the bottle of their choice. With a lineup of different vinos at your disposal, you can pretend to be sommeliers for a night and take notes on each one. Raise the stakes by offering a prize for the guest who brought the bottle with the highest overall rating.
Make a vision board.
Planning out your dream life through photos can be just as motivational as writing it down, FYI. Gather some tape/glue, a presentation board, and a few magazines to start collaging images that feature the things you want to see and achieve over the next few months. You can also do this activity digitally, on sites like Canva or Pinterest, if you're short on craft supplies.
