I don’t like rain. There, I said it. I don’t care if people romanticise it with candles and lo-fi playlists, I’m not one of them. Rain at night? Fine. I’m asleep, do whatever. But rain in the morning? When I open my eyes, stretch dramatically, and expect sunlight beaming through the window like I’m in a skincare advert? No. Absolutely not.

Instead, I get this sad, grey soup of a sky that looks like it’s also having a breakdown. The light is dull, my motivation evaporates, and suddenly I’m just standing by the window questioning “why earth is round?”

Living in Japan, rainy season is a proper thing. Like, not just “ooh, bring a brolly” kind of rain, I’m talking about the full gloomy package. I cry at least once every few days when it gets like this. I’ll just sit by the window, make up dramatic scenarios in my head (usually involving someone forgetting my birthday), and cry. Sometimes I don’t even know why. Rain turns me into a very damp version of Shakespeare.

Yesterday was a prime example. It rained all day, so obviously I didn’t do anything productive. Instead, I inhaled an entire book 400 pages of a crime thriller called “You Killed Me First”. Absolute chaos. It was fast-paced, dramatic, and frankly, perfect for my rainy day alter ego. I read it in 5–6 hours, and then spent the rest of the day lying/sitting on the sofa, staring at the ceiling like a misunderstood detective who just cracked a cold case.

Rainy weather turns me into someone else entirely. Someone who has seven snacks lined up by 11 AM. Someone who wears a blanket like a cape and whispers “why me” to a cup of lukewarm tea. It’s giving moody Victorian ghost. It’s giving romance novel protagonist in the first act before she turns her life around.

And don’t get me started on umbrellas. Useless in wind. Always dripping on your socks. And somehow I always manage to poke myself in the eye while closing them. For something meant to protect you, they’re surprisingly aggressive.

But I’ll admit, rainy days do have their moments. They’re like a weird permission slip from the universe to do nothing. You can cancel plans guilt-free, wear pyjamas all day, cry in the bath (a classic), and call it “emotional processing.” Honestly, I think I get more self-reflection done in one rainy day than a year of sunshine.

So yeah, I still don’t like rain. But I guess I’ve learned to lean into the chaos a bit. Embrace the weird crying fits, the snack binges, the binge-reading, and the vibe of being one sad piano track away from a dramatic movie montage.

May your socks stay dry, your books be gripping, and your tea always hit different. And if you find yourself crying by the window on a rainy day, just know, you’re not alone. I’m probably doing the exact same thing… with snacks.

If you are anyone like me, I found us a little “Rainy day survivial kit” so it won’t be as hard as it used to be. Follow along.

Rainy Day Survival Kit (aka How to Emotionally Survive Gloomy Skies)

If you’re going to be sad and dramatic, you might as well do it properly. Here’s what you need to survive a rainy day without losing your will to function:

• Cosy blanket: preferably one that feels like a hug from a non-judgemental grandma.
• Oversized hoodie: bonus points if it makes you look like a sentient pillow.
• Snacks on snacks: sweet, salty, crunchy, sad… variety is key. Don’t limit yourself.
• Hot beverage: tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or just warm water if you’ve given up.
• A book that emotionally wrecks you: hriller, romance, trauma… your pick.
• Candle that smells like you’re in a cottage by the sea: even if you’re in a small flat surrounded by laundry piles.
• Journal: to write about your feelings or just doodle sad clouds and broken hearts.
• Emergency chocolate stash: self-explanatory.
• Zero plans; rain says: cancel everything. Honour that.

Rainy Day Playlist: For When You’re Feeling Main Character Energy

Whether you’re crying at the window or pretending you’re in a sad French film, here’s the vibe:

1. “River”: Joni Mitchell (for soft existential sobbing)
2. “The Night We Met”: Lord Huron (hello, emotional spiral)
3. “Cigarette Daydreams”: Cage the Elephant (just enough melancholy)
4. “Liability”: Lorde (because same)
5. “Holocene”: Bon Iver (no clue what he’s saying but it feels deep)
6. “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room”: John Mayer (I pretend I’ve been betrayed)
7. “Someone Like You”: Adele (mandatory)
8. “Champagne Problems”: Taylor Swift (sad but sparkly)
9. “Cellophane”: FKA twigs (for peak dramatic bathroom crying)
10. Rain sounds on loop: because why not double down

I do sincerely hope that next time you feel “under the weather” this may help you. Also, do tell me whats your favourite weather and why?

loads of luv

Hannah