The weather in Chico has shifted from a crushing heat to frigid rain, and the shift in weather demands a shift in lifestyle. Cold weather and rain force people indoors, a marked shift from the active outdoor-living lifestyle that Chico usually promotes. Below is a guide to make the most out of the rapid change in temperature. The cold is a gift if you utilize the time properly and make the most out of the weather.

1. Eat Warm Delicious Food

There’s nothing so precious in this world like a warm meal when it’s pouring rain outside. Go-to recipes include grilled cheese, tomato soup, pho or deep-dish pizza. In the winter it’s acceptable to layer clothing, so you can start eating foods that pack on the calories like mozzarella sticks or chocolate. Honestly, if you can find something warm that’s a bonus, but it’s more about eating as much as possible. Eat to your heart’s content and get ready to hibernate for the winter; now’s your chance to eat all you possibly can. Worry about your swimsuit body when it gets closer to summer.

2. Cuddle with Your Significant Other

It’s cuddle weather, take the opportunity while it’s here. The chilling rain is a fantastic excuse to invite over the classmate you’ve been eyeing in class. Rain and hail have sparked more romance than any other mechanism on earth. Beyond that, spending a day in bed is one of life’s purest enjoyments. Turn on Netflix and binge watch a terrible show, read a book and burn some incense. This is an excellent activity to combine with eating warm food. If you can’t manage to find someone to share this activity with or you have no interest in sharing your bed with anyone, spending a day in bed by yourself is still a beautiful way to spend your day.

3. Pursue your Hobbies

Developing a personal hobby is something everyone should show interest in, regardless of weather. Hobbies are a fantastic way to make a positive change in your life and are an important part of self-actualization and skill building. As the weather confines people indoors, there’s never a better time to improve oneself. Pick up an instrument, start painting or build a desk. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you dedicate yourself to a new craft. It’s too easy to accept the cold and the rain as an excuse to watch TV all day; instead, use the time to build yourself as a person and develop a new skill. There will be plenty of time to catch up on TV shows at another time in your life.

Grayson Boyer can be reached at [email protected] or @gray_boyer on Twitter.