After an extremely dry beginning to the summer, here in DC we’ve had lots of cloudy skies and rain the last few days. That’s gotten me to thinking about how to plan around and for rainy summer days.

First, outdoor summer plans should always include a Plan B. A trip to a theme park, a hike, a cookout for friends — all of them should have a backup. The proper backup might be another activity, another location, or another date, whichever works for you.

Second, it’s always great to have some good rainy day activities at hand, whether you are at home or away. A rainy day activity can be a chore, like cleaning a closet or doing your mending, or a way to get ahead, such as cooking or prepping meals for the freezer, or something you enjoy, like a craft or a book to read or a streaming queue to watch. If you have something to do, you are less likely to be bored and to feel like you’ve wasted your day.

Finally, make sure that you take advantage of days that have good weather. When days are warm, sunny, and dry, make sure you get aside, to play, to do outdoor chores, or just to rest in the sunshine (with appropriate sunscreen., of course).

Summer days are fleeting. Take advantage of all of them — rain or shine.