What are rainy days, really? Homer’s The Odyssey uses the word ‘doldrum’ to describe a place of dead wind and inactivity. For many, rainy days are doldrums. The dull gray skies make it easy to crawl under a blanket, fall asleep and ignore the world outside. But, take a second to consider the benefits offered by rain.
Have you ever listened to lo-fi music? The genre, known for its relaxed tempo and ambient sound, often uses the sounds of rain layered into the background of tracks. ‘Lo-fi Rain’ playlists are everywhere on music platforms like YouTube and Spotify, and for good reason too. A study from The Journal of Consumer Research found in 2012 that low ambient noise like rain results in better performance in creative tasks. A more recent study from 2023 found that nature sounds cause people to feel more “comfortable, relaxed and natural.”
This is not a new finding. The Roman poet Lucretius described the pleasure of listening to waves and rain from the safety of shelter around 2000 years ago in Book II of his De Rerum Natura (About the Nature of Things). It, however, is a feeling that still resonates today. Sheldon Bol (IV) shares that when it is raining, “looking out the window every once [in] a while helps me really concentrate on the task [at] hand.”
Just like lo-fi, rain can serve as the background in the song of life. In today’s fast-paced, industrialized society, many have the constant urge to produce, to achieve, to keep moving — rarely stopping to breathe. Rain slows us down. It creates a rhythm that lets us take a pause in a world that is constantly pushing forward. Rainy days force us to stay inside, leading us to reflect over what truly matters and where we would rather be.
The benefits are not just emotional. Beyond the immediate effect of giving water to plants and animals, rain provides nutrients. As it falls, it brings minerals from one place to another, creating a rich environment that promotes plant growth. Plants grow taller, stronger and faster, supporting a balanced ecosystem.
Rain, however is not just good for the earth; it is also good for the air. Boston Latin School AP Biology teacher Mr. Lawrence Spezzano explains, “The polarity of water and clouds are attractive to pollutant particulates and help remediate their presence in the air.” When pollen levels are high, one small downpour can rinse the air clean, and suddenly people can breathe through both nostrils again. Magic.
Rain also clears the air metaphorically by bringing people together. It could be by building a cozy Minecraft dirt hut at 1:00 A.M. while rain taps on the window or watching Singin’ in the Rain under a blanket with your best friend. Rainy days often create shared memories that stay. Simon Chen (II) recalls getting caught in a thunderstorm with friends: “We […] had to sprint for almost a mile. […] Exhausting and excessive? Yes, but totally worth it for the memory.” The change of plans that accompany a sudden downpour can lead to meaningful bonding. The tiniest moments — walking home under an umbrella with a friend or them laughing at your wet socks — can strengthen relationships in ways that sunny days cannot.
Of course, not everyone enjoys the rain. Bol and Chen both admit that it can make them feel “gloomier than usual” and “drained and dreary,” respectively. Those feelings are valid. Our reaction to weather is deeply personal, affected by mood, mental health and happenstance.
There is, however, value in trying to see rain differently. Opportunities for change and growth can only offer something truly meaningful when we are willing to embrace them, to listen and be changed.
The next time the skies darken and rain begins to fall, try to not see it as doldrums. Do not hide from it.
Let it slow you down. Let it clear your mind. Let it nourish the earth beneath you and wash the air around you. Let it remind you of who you are and what you want to be.
Let it rain.
The sun will come.