Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT

Smog, smog, go away. Come again another day! 

Back in my hometown, we don't have smog days. We have snow days. Coming from an area that doesn't see much snow, when the first snowflake falls, people immediately run to the store to buy up all the milk and bread, which is something I still don't understand to this day because a milk sandwich does not seem like it would hold up well. My friends and I would usually run to buy chili and beer. The best part of this was that the whole town would shut down until the powdery intruder melted away.

This past week, when the heavy "haze" set in, it reminded me of those cherished snow days where you got an unexpected break from work and school. Even though the gray skies are not as beautiful as a fresh blanket of snow, I think there are some similarities on how to spend a fun-filled smoggy day in Beijing.

Have a fog-themed movie marathon and watch some other people suffer a similar fate. Silent Hill (2006) is my first choice. Follow a woman named Rose as she searches the "fog world" of the ash-blanketed town of Silent Hill for her missing daughter. If you are in for more thrills, pop in Stephen King's The Mist (2007). When the mist rolls in from the lake, the townsfolk think nothing of it until it consumes the town and they discover bloodthirsty creatures hidden within the veil of the mist. Some other greats include The Fog (2005) and Fog Island (1945).

Host a party. Spare your lungs and sacrifice your liver by gathering all your friends (and their air filters) for a night of fun and games. There is no better way to beat the gray-day blues than throwing back a few drinks and having some laughs with friends. Get some kicks out of a smoggy situation and have friends guess the AQI every hour. If you are more than 10 points off, you have to take a shot!

Have a spa day. Guys and girls can both enjoy a little pampering. Rid your pores of all those toxins it has been soaking up with a detoxifying facial mask. Let your dry and wind-battered skin soak up some moisture with a luxurious hand or foot massage. It is even better if you can get someone to do it for you. Take a break and enjoy a long, relaxing shower. There is no need to rush since you do not have anywhere to go anyway.

Catch up on your reading. With the everyday hustle and bustle, crowded subways and bumpy cab rides, it is hard to find time to curl up with your favorite book. Head over to the shelf, dust off your favorite spy or romance novel and settle in with a nice warm cup of tea. Escape your hazy world and ride off with pirates on the seven seas, or meet your prince charming when he rescues you from clutches of an evil villain. You will forget that triple digit AQI in no time.

The fog will not last forever. So, when the sun comes, at least you will have a few good memories from the smog-apocalypse.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.