What to do when it rains

A wet day doesn't have to be a wasted one. Here are some simple ideas, whether you're stuck indoors or just don't want to let the rain stop you.

Indoors

• Read a book you've been meaning to start
• Cook something a bit more involved than usual
• Do a puzzle or a bit of drawing
• Sort through photos and pick out the good ones
• Play cards or a board game
• Write a few lines about how the week's going
• Have a proper tidy-up or sort your kit out
• Watch something you've been putting off
• Ring someone you haven't spoken to in a while
• Bake, if you've got the time and the ingredients

Somewhere with a roof

If you don't want to stay in all day, look for places that work just as well in the rain:

• Museums and galleries
• Indoor markets
• A proper sit-down lunch somewhere warm
• A bookshop worth browsing properly
• Cafés with somewhere comfortable to sit for a while

It's worth having one or two of these in mind before the rain starts, rather than deciding on the spot.

Odd jobs you keep putting off

Rain's a good excuse to get boring jobs done that never happen when the sun's out:

• Sort out a cupboard or drawer that's got out of hand
• Touch up that bit of paintwork you keep meaning to do
• Clean out the car properly
• Get through admin you've been avoiding
• Fix the one thing that's been bugging you for weeks

Don't rule out going outside

A bit of rain isn't always a reason to stay in:

• A short walk in proper waterproofs can be genuinely enjoyable
• Puddles, empty trails, and quiet views are part of the appeal
• Watching a storm roll in from somewhere sheltered is its own kind of activity

A wet day is just a different kind of day. Some of the best memories come from the ones that didn't go to plan.