Rainy Days = More Time Indoors (Here’s How To Make The Most Of It)

Waking up early in the morning to trek to work in the rain—no thank you! Lucky for us, though, Georgia’s weather didn’t cooperate. Hello, (rainy) November. So what are we supposed to do for the next few days while it’s raining cats and dogs, and topping out at 50 degrees? Well, the choice is clear for many of us, stay warm, dry and comfortable indoors—did someone say movie night? Yes please.

While there are some people adventurous enough to head out into the chilly, wet weather to go to the gym or their routine exercise class—that’s why there are umbrellas, right?—the rest of us choose to stay comfortable at home, only going outdoors if absolutely necessary. But just because you’re stuck indoors for the next few days, doesn’t mean that you can’t make the most of being home.

So in addition to some lounging, relaxing nights, here are a few other ways to make these rainy days (and nights) more fun—and healthy:

1.    Play cards. Instead of camping out on the couch to watch your go-to shows or a movie (or two), try sitting at a table together and enjoy playing some cards. Not only is it easy—a deck of cards is something that’s almost always on hand—it’s actually beneficial for your health. It can help with lowering blood pressure, supporting stress relief, boosting memory formation and helping with child health and brain development. For some kid-friendly games to try, visit https://www.deliacreates.com/40-card-games-kids/.

2.    Get your groove on. While the pitter-pater of rain can certainly be relaxing, so can listening to some of your favorite music. Whether your go-to track is “No Rain” by Blind Melon, or “Umbrella” by Rihanna, with a little James Taylor “Fire and Rain” sprinkled in, the fact remains that listening to music can be beneficial for your overall health because it helps to relieve stress and anxiety, while also improving mood. Plus, if you show off some of those killer dance moves, you’ll burn some calories, as well as strengthen the parts of your brain that control memory, planning and organizing.

3.    Stay strong. Who says you need a gym to stay active? Between vacuuming and cleaning, or going up and down stairs, there are plenty of ways to sneak in exercise while at home. You can also give this at-home strength training circuit a try. While it may not be your ideal way to spend a dreary afternoon, remember that strength-training exercises can help to improve muscle strength, reduce body fat and increase your balance and stability—along with many other benefits! Plus, there’s nothing that says you can’t enjoy watching TV during your sweat session.

4.    Eat something delicious. One of the best parts of rainy days like this: all of your favorite fall foods just become even tastier. Somehow all of those warm, hearty soups, comforting casseroles and filling pastas just make everything better—can you say yummy in the tummy? And while it may be easiest to stick to the same old, same old when it comes to recipes, why not mix things up for a change? Here are a few recipes that are perfect for nights like these, plus they serve as a great source of key nutrients:

·         Italian Sausage Bean Soup

·         Southern Chicken and Dumpling Soup

·         Southwestern Tex-Mex Chicken Noodle Soup

·         Quick Apple Crisp

·         Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

Expert health care for your rainy day. As the old saying goes, when it rains, it pours. And during those rainy times, when your health may not be its brightest, that’s when comprehensive health care matters most. With convenient locations, extensive services, knowledgeable providers and a connection to the vast health resources of Gwinnett Medical Center, you can count on GMG Primary Care—rain or shine!