You know when you plan your day full of fun outside activities and you get so excited, then you wake up the next morning and it’s raining?
This may be one of the many challenges you face this summer, as I feel like I’m constantly faced with this issue. My goal is to give you some ideas for activities to do when your outdoor plans are discontinued due to summer rain. Here it goes.
1. Go to (free) yoga.
Clear your mind and get exercise. You can pay for yoga if you want, but I’ve found some places that offer free yoga, because I’m a broke college student and I’m assuming you could be as well. Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (821 E 35th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407) offers a bunch of free yoga classes, almost every day of the week. Check out their website for more information.
2. Check out an art museum.
Art can be a good way to keep your mind active during a dreary and rainy day. The Minneapolis Institute of Art is free everyday. There is over three levels of almost every different kind of art you can think of; painting, sculptures, photographs. Also, the Weisman Art Museum is free and pretty close to the Augsburg campus.
3. Talk to your grandparents.
Personally, my grandma is one of my favorite people. I get really busy and caught up in life sometimes, though, and forget I should be spending time with her. A rainy day is a perfect day to get lunch with your grandparents, help them do some cleaning, or just hang out. They generally have an immense amount of life experience to share if you just ask them. If your grandparents don’t live around here, Skype or call them. Either way, they would probably love to hear from you.
4. Rent Purple Rain.
Minnesota’s beloved Prince tragically passed away this April. The whole city of Minneapolis was illuminated in purple the following weeks to honor his life. You can honor him, too, by renting the Academy Award winning movie Purple Rain. The movie stars Prince, and is loosely based on his life. I would give the movie 10/10 stars, considering I love Prince and cried when he sang Purple Rain at the end.
5. Expand your music horizons.
Music is so important! Sometimes I get in a phase where I only listen to Drake, or I only listen to The Beatles, etc, etc. I think it’s important to listen to all types of music, though, not just one type. When I get caught up on one band, I go to the nearest Cheapo records, and go straight to the clearance CD section. They have a ton of CDs that are only 99 cents. I often find CD’s of a band I only know one or a few songs by. After I listen to them I usually end up really enjoying and appreciating them. While you’re there, walk around the rest of the store as well, they have tons of different kinds of music and band memorabilia that is cool to check out.
6. Buy new shoes.
I really shouldn’t be suggesting this, considering I shop way too much (just ask my parents). Usually a rainy day starts giving you the feels, though, and what could make you feel better than a new pair of shoes? You could even order them online so you don’t even have to get out of bed. Here’s one of my favorite websites to get you started – Vans. For the next rainy day, I’m thinking about a pair of maroon Vans.
7. Clean your space.
Who wants to spend a sunny day cleaning up their room because they can no longer get to their bed without a snow plow to plow through all the piled up dirty clothes that have been accumulating for weeks? Not me! Of course this exact scenario has never been a problem of mine, but I have seen this issue in Oren Gateway before. From the wise words of Jess Lambert, “Unclutter your space, unclutter your mind.”
8. Read a Book.
Go to your nearest Half Priced Books, and get a cheap book to read for fun. I know since I’ve been in college I’ve done tons of reading that professors have assigned, but no recreational reading. Reading a book for fun could be a great way to actually be productive while still laying low on a rainy day. Plus, studies show that people who read are smarter and nicer than people who don’t, and who doesn’t want to be smarter and nicer?
9. Go Bowling!
You get to wear ugly shoes and have fun with your friends. Memory Lanes is a bowling alley pretty close to Augsburg, but if you have the option check out Bryant Lake Bowl. You can order anything you want while you bowl, last time I was there I was eating french toast with one hand and bowling with the other. If you’re embarrassed or insecure about your bowling skills, just keep in mind that last time I went bowling I scored a 38.
10. Get Sushi.
There is nothing in this world better than sushi. In fact, you should get sushi even if it’s not raining. If you don’t feel like cooking and you’re hungry, though, get sushi. Osaka in Roseville has a sushi “Happy Hour” where most of the sushi rolls are half off. It’s Monday-Thursday, 7:00-9:30pm. Check it out! It’s pretty healthy and tastier than Nabo or the cafeteria.
Hopefully one of my suggestions appealed to you. It’s important to stay active on rainy days, because they can start to make you feel down if you stay static for too long. Thanks for reading!
-Connie K.