Not Another Stuck-Indoors Day. A chill, no-pressure guide to enjoying a slow day without getting sucked into your phone
There’s something oddly comforting about a rainy day, the sound of water tapping against the windows, the cool breeze, the slower pace. But let’s be honest: after about an hour or two, it’s easy to find yourself deep in a social media scroll hole, bouncing from app to app, not feeling any better.
So if you’re stuck indoors and want to do something a little more intentional (or at least something that doesn’t involve your screen lighting up your face for hours), here are 7 low-effort, cozy ideas to try. No pressure, no hustle, just simple ways to make the most of a rainy day.
1. Rearrange or Refresh One Small Corner of Your Home
You don’t need to redecorate your whole place. Just pick one shelf, surface, or nook and give it a little attention. Move things around, declutter, maybe add a candle or a plant. You’d be surprised how much better a space can feel after five minutes of moving things around with intention.
Bonus: you get to enjoy that fresh little corner for the rest of the day while the rain falls outside.
2. Make a Warm Drink and Sit Down to Enjoy It
Instead of drinking your coffee or tea while multitasking, turn it into a small ritual. Pick your favorite mug. Warm something up. Then sit down and do nothing else for a few minutes but sip.
It sounds small, but this kind of pause, especially on a rainy day can be grounding. It reminds you to slow down. To breathe. To just be. No rushing, no scrolling. Just warmth and quiet.
3. Try a “Phone-Free Hour” With Background Music or a Podcast
This isn’t about going off-grid. Just pick one hour and set your phone somewhere you can’t reach it easily. Put on soft background music or a podcast you’ve been meaning to catch up on, preferably one that doesn’t trigger stress or information overload.
Then do something with your hands: fold laundry, organize a drawer, cook, or just stare out the window like an indie movie main character. Whatever works. The goal is simply to let your mind wander without a screen dragging it in ten directions.
4. Bake or Cook Something Comforting (and Low-Maintenance)
Rainy days and comfort food go hand in hand. You don’t need to be a chef, just make something that smells good and feels warm. Maybe a simple soup, banana bread, or even just a grilled cheese with soup on the side.
The act of cooking something cozy, and then eating it while listening to the rain? Underrated joy.
5. Revisit an Old-School Hobby You Used to Love
Think of something you enjoyed *before* life got so digital. Reading a physical book. Writing in a journal. Drawing. Knitting. Scrapbooking. Sorting out a photo album.
There’s a kind of comfort in returning to an old hobby not to be productive or perfect, but just to enjoy it again. Rainy days are the perfect excuse to dust off something you forgot you liked.
6. Do a Light Clean, Not Because You Have To, Just Because It Feels Good
Sometimes, wiping down the kitchen counter or fluffing pillows is surprisingly therapeutic. When it’s gloomy outside, doing a little “reset” inside your space can give you a sense of clarity without overdoing it.
Don’t clean your whole house, just do a few light resets. Clear off a table, fold a blanket, light a candle. Small stuff. It’s not about the result, it’s the process.
7. Let Yourself Be Bored for a Bit (It’s Not a Bad Thing)
This might be the hardest one, but maybe the most powerful.
Instead of immediately reaching for a screen the second you feel bored, try sitting with it for a few minutes. Stare at the rain. Doodle. Lie down. Let your thoughts go wherever they want to. We’re so trained to fill every moment with stimulation that we forget how creatively productive boredom can be.
Some of your best ideas, or most peaceful moments, come from doing absolutely nothing.
Wrap Up
A rainy day can feel like a slowdown, or like a lost day, depending on how you approach it. You don’t need to do a full digital detox or have a super productive afternoon. But you can take it as a chance to reconnect with quieter things.
Put your phone down for a bit. Look around your space. Breathe. Move slower.
You don’t need to do all seven things; just one or two is enough to shift your mood and turn a gray day into something lovely.
And who knows, maybe next time it rains, you’ll look forward to it.