Gloomy skies and wet bike seats can instantly put a damper on an otherwise pleasant day. While we tend to feel guilty for complaining about heavy showers after years of drought in California, those of us used to a consistently sunny climate start looking for the nearest tsunami shelter whenever our weather apps predict rain.

All of a sudden, routine habits become major decisions: Should I brave the outdoors for a trip to the dining hall or settle for ramen in my room? A fight-or-flight response generally kicks in, and students find themselves either venturing out into the elements anyways or hunkering down for a productive afternoon of Netflix binge watching.

Confronting a downpour carries the obvious benefit of receiving the admiration of your less adventurous peers. Additionally, rainwear can be cute, and there’s nothing like that “I just experienced Hurricane Sandy, but I’m here now” hair to make a first impression. Rain provides us with a delicate dewy aura, bringing us closer to nature as well as to our equally soaked classmates. And going out in the rain is also necessary for acquiring any kind of a warm drink to reverse the bitter effects of a frigid California winter, which will make it all worth it. (I personally recommend Coupa’s elephant vanilla chai latte, if you’re looking for the liquid equivalent of a hug).

But on certain days, the notion of watching all your clothes turn a darker shade at the hands of precipitation just isn’t appealing. Biking around blows your hood off your head (unless you have better luck than I do), and even an umbrella can’t fully protect you from the chaotic flight path of wayward raindrops. It’s on these types of mornings that we can completely excuse you for staying inside with a warm blanket, a good movie and an extensive to-do list that you plan on promptly ignoring.

Contact Georgina Grant at gagrant ‘at’ stanford.edu.