I have always looked forward to rainy days and thunderstorms. Weird right? People normally question me when they hear that I enjoy rainy days since they’d rather have bright, sunny days. Not that I always want it to rain, but I love a good gloomy day every now and then. There’s actually a real psychological reason behind this.

Now, the “normal” people who love those bright, sunny days tend to experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is when fall changes to winter and the days get shorter and colder. These people tend to be in a worse mood. Some people don’t experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, and these people are the ones who enjoy the bad weather while some even find it to relieve anxiety.

Some psychologists believe that this happens to people because our brains are craving a sensory input. The sounds of a thunderstorm or rain hitting your window can get rid of the brain’s demands which can be very calming. On the other hand, the bright sun causes the brain to want to be more stimulated.

Your brain is constantly searching for stimulation, which subconsciously makes some people tired. That’s another reason why some people look forward to rain. It gives them time for their brains to calm down, and it lets them focus.

Aside from all of that, there’s also something called the pink noise phenomenon. This is like white noise, which helps you sleep better. Pink noise stimulates your subconscious since it’s noise of higher frequency, but it does not distract you. Pink noise includes sounds like running water (like a stream), ocean waves crashing, crunching leaves, etc.

That’s why rain is calming to some people since it’s a sensory thing. Either way, rain and thunderstorms have always been two of my favorite things. Especially on a hot, summer day watching the dark clouds roll in, or when I’m going to bed/waking up, hearing rain outside is one of my absolute favorite things.