Hello valued Hoot readers. Welcome back to Hoot Recommends, the series where our editors recommend things to you. This week, as spring approaches and rain becomes more common, we are recommending our favorite rainy day activities.
James: This is kind of a difficult to answer, as I spend most of my time indoors anyway. As a result, my rainy day activities are pretty similar to my sunny day activities. I spend my time on rainy days watching tv, doing homework, playing poker or writing for The Hoot. Dear readers, I would highly recommend that you do that last one. It’s really a great use of your time and something that you will find very enjoyable.
Michael: Sadly, most of my free time these days is spent either working on homework, or studying for tests, rain or shine. I’m in the trenches right now. The specific combination of classes that I took this semester might have been a mistake. It feels like I’m always either working or something or waiting for the next assignment to come out. This article may or may not be a cry for help. Whenever I actually do have free time, though, I just watch an episode of “Impractical Jokers”. This is perhaps the funniest show ever conceived. Joe, Sal, Q and Murr never fail to amuse with their hilarious antics in public. There may be an opinion article coming out about that soon. Or maybe not? Who knows?
Lucas: Mud sledding. I’ve only done it once, with my sister, when I was like 12, but it remains to this day the king of rainy day activities. Just find a hill filled with mud, grab a sled (or any large flat object), hop on and slide on down! It does require it to be seriously rainy, though. And it will also get you absolutely filthy … but some things are worth the sacrifice. It also doesn’t work that well half the time. Oh well.
Avery: I like the rain a lot when it’s warm outside – I really love the water and when I’m not going to freeze in it, the rain is super enjoyable! Just taking a walk, especially through the trees, while it’s warm and rainy is relaxing and makes me feel at peace with nature. When it’s cold or I don’t feel like getting wet, just curling up inside listening to the rain with something to do is also lovely; the background noise and aesthetic is really nice for getting work done.
Cooper: This is a classic, but there’s nothing better than playing some terrible video games when there’s no reason to go outside. There’s something very comforting about booting up League of Legends, calling some high school friends, and getting absolutely pummelled by my opponents game after game. Is the problem that I’m just bad at video games? Yes. Do I plan on getting better? No.
Jenna: My new rainy day/indoor activity, a recent re-addition to the list, is doing puzzles. I know this is a divisive subject but, to me, puzzles are super relaxing and rewarding. After doing a really complicated 1000 piece puzzle with my roommate followed by a far cuter and less complicated cat puzzle of about 300 pieces, I’ve determined that you need to pick the piece count based on how you’re feeling. 1000 is a commitment, several days maybe even broken up into weeks whereas a 300 piece puzzle took us about 2 hours and was just a fun way to chat while keeping busy. So if you’re afraid of puzzling but want to give it a try, start small and go bigger! I’m still waiting to try 500 pieces and see how the time commitment compares as well as decide if I think legos would be fun or take the mystery out of the whole thing …
Ella: On a rainy day I like to start by grabbing my morning overpriced coffee from a nearby café, or just Starbucks if I am feeling lazy. I may even stay there to get some work done while watching the rain outside. It’s so aesthetic. But once I am home, I take full advantage of the excuse to just stay in. I feel no pressure to be active so I will often curl up in bed and either scroll mindlessly on my phone or take a nap because taking a nap to the sound of the rain is unmatched. Both of these feel like a rare break from my usual busyness. However, on the off chance that I am feeling antsy, which can happen on some rainy days when I am stuck inside, I will text a friend to play some casual tennis indoors and instead spend the entire time just chatting!
Rachel: There’s nothing like a rainy day, am I right? It nourishes our land and it provides a fun little disruption into our everyday lives. Of course while it may be fun for a bit to get that refreshing natural shower and catch some rain drops on our tongues, it is not feasible to stand in the rain for too long, as you don’t want to catch a cold. Therefore, you need to figure out a way to keep yourself busy indoors. As someone who spends most of her time indoors, I have you covered. For starters, take a nap. We’re all sleep-deprived in one way or another, so why not fall asleep to the calming rain sounds. Assignments will come and go, but your health and energy is forever. Your body will thank you for this rainy day nap. Then, once you are done with this nap, and you have the time, start a new TV show. There is probably that new hit show that you have been meaning to watch, or an actor that you love is in something new. Now that you are trapped indoors, you have no excuse (except for school work, I guess). Get cozy in bed, start up your lap, find a fun show, and start watching. That rain is probably not letting up anytime soon, so you can get fully invested into an exciting series. It can help calm the mind. So, next time it is raining, don’t fret, because that rain will be the perfect excuse for you to finally get the relaxation and peace that you need.
