It's raining as I type this blog post. It's less fun to go out than to stay home. However, instead of watching TV or listening to music, here are some better things we could do.
1) Carry on working. Keep to our commitments.
There is much to be said about perseverance and grit. Productive people do not let the weather sweep them off their feet. James Clear writes that the best strategy for those who find themselves stuck is to "stay on the bus", that is, to stay committed to one's work despite what happens all around us. The true measure of one's success is not how remarkable one's achievements are, but whether they are committed to something greater than themselves. Even educators agree that students who persevere are more likely to do well than those who throw in the towel.
2) Read a book.
We learn much from books. They are great for self-improvement, and we also glean new ideas from them too. Reading stimulates the brain and reduces the likelihood of getting diseases like Alzheimer's. Books expand our vocabulary and make us better writers. Reading can also help relieve stress and focus our attention in a world of digital distraction.
I used to read voraciously in junior high, but I read less as the years went by. In the little experience that I have, I can say that the quality of my writing, creative or otherwise, diminishes if I have not read something beforehand. I also find it hard to sustain a creative work without books that can guide me through the process and tell me how realistic I should set my expectations.
3) Cook at home.
No, I don't mean making microwave meals. Home-cooked food is healthier and more beneficial to you overall. The first reason is that it brings the family together. As my mum used to say, "A family who eats together stays together", preparing meals together gives us a chance to bond with our loved ones and teaching our young ones to cook also equips them with a skill for life. Home cooking is also a good way to optimise your meals for health, as you can control the amount of sugar, salt, fat and oil you add to the food. It also saves you money and reduces your carbon footprint by bypassing payment for food handling procedures before the food reaches your table.
Then why aren't we cooking at home more? One common complaint is that it takes time. However, we all have 24 hours, so we must first find out what takes our time away. (Is it distraction again?) Then there isn't very much to do beyond that. We then keep our kitchen a clean and tidy place, stock it with basic necessities such as flour, noodles, oil and salt, and plan and buy for your meals accordingly. Cook a little more, say pasta or meat, so that they could be reheated for the next meal if time runs short. This is particularly true for a rainy day when going out is inconvenient. You can find more tips here.
Sometimes life throws in little roadblocks and minor inconveniences. How we face them is the big question, because whoever is faithful in little is also faithful in much. If you can make the small lemons into lemonade, how much more greater lemons.