Well, it's officially spring. Gloomy, cloudy, and rainy days are what we're looking at in the forecast. At least if you're in southeast Michigan, most of the snow has melted away, so that's nice I guess.
Everyone has been dreaming of summer since the day after Christmas, and these melancholy days are currently more common than the sporadic comfortable 50-degree sunny days, topped off with the smell of a neighbor's bonfire at dusk.
Why is it that gloominess and rain is associated with a lack of motivation? Is it because we're vitamin D deficient and long for the sunshine? Probably.
Though we can't see it, we do know that just on the other side of the clouds is the sun continuing to shine. Yet, it makes all the difference.
What if these dark and gloomy days actually turn out to be the best days to get stuff done?
Rain = Reduced Distractions
On sunny days, it's easy to be lured away from work by the warmth of the sun or the temptation to spend time outside. At the crack of dawn, we can sense what kind of day the clouds will give us. The sun starts to pour in through the windows and the birds are chirping louder than the day before!
We get antsy as we think about all the things we can do outside, like riding the bike we insisted we'd use but sits untouched in storage...still, who cares! Maybe today's the day!
On rainy days though, the weather kind of makes that decision for us, right? Who wants to be outside when it's raining? Indoors it is! Options, like getting some writing and editing done seem more plausible on a day like today, and the sun isn't out to distract us from that word count goal.
We're off to a good start!
Gloomy, yet soothing!
We sit down and start chipping away at a to-do list. The sound of the rain taps on the window because it can't help but remind you that it's there and not the sun...ugh!
But actually, it's quite soothing. Even if it's pouring, it kind of enhances the taste of the coffee we brewed up, doesn't it? It's like we're sitting in a coffee shop in New York City or downtown Seattle, watching the streaks and raindrops slide their way down the window, or create ripples in street puddles.
Time slows down, there's suddenly more time to write, more time to breathe.
Deadlines seem plausible now...
Our focus has increased. (By the way, did you know that the absence of sunlight reduces eye strain, so it's easier to look at a computer screen for a longer period of time?)
Creativity among the shadows
Before we know it, we've been journaling and brainstorming ideas the last hour. The rain, in a way, helped our ideas and creativity flow through time. The gloomy atmosphere seemed to inspire introspection and reflection.
The chill in the air forced us to get comfortable, feel relaxed, and open to exploring new ideas and new projects. We are unconsciously aware of our creativity pouring out.
Another day, another dollar
And just like that, it's 2 p.m. and we feel accomplished, wondering how we pulled it off. We weren't distracted! We won't admit it, but we're a little upset the rain faded throughout the afternoon. Now it's just cloudy...
Nevertheless, we got more done than we realized. The combination of reduced distractions, increased focus, and boosted creativity led to a significant increase in our productivity we didn't see coming!
Oh, and we didn't plan for it, but turns out we have an extra hour or two to run that errand we've been slacking on for a week. Thanks, rain!
It's no secret that rainy and melancholy days are not everyone's cup of tea. They can, however, offer several benefits that we don't even realize! They're like a gift we received and want to return, yet somehow end up needing.
So the next time you see a rainy forecast, don't despair–embrace it as an opportunity to get more done and take care of yourself! It's simply just motivation waiting to be unveiled.