Treat Yourself: 20+ Ideas for Birthday Self-Care (Solo or with Friends!)
Every day is a great day to take care of yourself, but as we know all too well, life gets busy.
Every day is a great day to take care of yourself, but as we know all too well, life gets busy.
Alarm clocks ring, kids need attention, fires erupt at work—metaphorical fires only, we hope… Anyway, before we know it, weeks or even months have gone by without ever having a second to think twice. And especially not about ourselves!
When so much of your year is focused on being there for others, your birthday should be all about you. Before you wake up to another year having sped by, take a minute to plan for some much-needed birthday self-care using the tips and ideas below.
Taking care of your body and mind is truly the best birthday gift, no matter your age!
Even when you purposely strategize a full day of self-care on your birthday, it’s all too easy for your typical thoughts and routines to creep in. This is only natural, but you shouldn’t let everyday anxieties or a jam-packed to-do list ruin your restorative plans!
Take a moment when you first wake up to commit to a day without worries, anxieties, ruminations, or regrets. You can even speak this promise out loud or chant it to yourself in the form of an affirmation:
Want more ideas? Here’s a YouTube video with some birthday affirmations.
With a little bit of planning, you can recreate your favorite spa experience in your own home—saving some money and allowing yourself to nestle in for a cozy, private birthday celebration. Throw on your most luxurious bathrobe and welcome the day (and if you don’t have one, buy one for yourself as a birthday gift!)
Most of these refreshing spa recipes can be made with common ingredients in your pantry like coconut oil, sugar, salt, and avocado:
One of the best ways to make your birthday special is to break out of your normal routine, whatever that may be. For example:
Move aside, 1950s etiquette rules. There’s no reason to wait for someone else to send you blooms! Choose your own mix of favorite flowers to brighten up your home or office space.
Tip: If you want something a little more long-term than fresh-cut flowers, treat yourself to a potted plant or a cool succulent garden. Taking care of your birthday plant for the coming years can be a good reminder to take care of yourself, too.
Instead of (or in addition to!) flowers, treat yourself to a physical item. Maybe it’s something small like a book, something practical like a fancy razor kit or stand mixer, or something more “big ticket” like a new game console or office chair. If you’re ordering it online, you could even have it gift-wrapped, so you have something to open on your birthday.
For many adults, birthdays are associated with letting loose, which sometimes (okay…many times!) means downing a few too many drinks of choice. While this can be fun on the birthday itself, it often leads to a post-birthday hangover and an overall feeling of sluggishness. Not exactly the best self-care, if we’re being honest.
For a true birthday refresh to welcome a new year of life, consider skipping the alcohol and doing a birthday “detox.” Just because there’s no alcohol doesn’t mean your drinks have to be boring, either:
On your birthday, you might find yourself dealing with additional busy-ness or anxiety in your mind—like regrets over the past year, anxieties about the future, or sadness about aging and the passing of time. All of these thoughts and feelings are normal, but it can feel good to formally process them (and show them the metaphorical door!).
Whether you sit for five minutes or a few hours, a birthday meditation practice is a wonderful way to welcome your new age.
Tip: If you aren’t a regular meditator, don’t be intimated. Apps like Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer provide great introductions to different meditation practices, including guided sequences to help you learn. (And you can often get a free trial before deciding to purchase, making this a free birthday gift to yourself!)
Have a do-nothing birthday where you allow yourself to relax and literally do nothing. You can lounge on the sofa, sit on the porch, people-watch in a nearby park, lay in child’s pose on the floor, cuddle with your dog or cat… If you look for them, there are a surprising number of ways to do absolutely nothing!
Setting aside some private reflection time is the perfect way to evaluate where you are in your life and to consider where you want to go in this next year. What goals do you have? How have you changed in the last year? What growth would you like to see as you turn 25, 30, 35, or 40?
Tip: The word “journal” often calls to mind a written diary—but it doesn’t have to be that! You can journal with pen and paper, on the computer, or even by recording yourself speaking into your phone. Do whatever feels most natural to you.
Even if you don’t consider yourself “artsy,” anyone can make a birthday collage! Cut out pictures from magazines (if you have them) or do some googling and print out images that you like. Depending on how you’re feeling on this particular birthday, you can try one of these themes for your birthday collage:
Depending on what will be most restorative to you, you can use this exercise to reflect on the past or to look forward to the future. Or why not both?
This means different things to different people—and that’s why we love it so much. After taking some time to reflect on where you want to be in this new year of life, you can actually take a few concrete steps toward achieving those goals. In fact, you can probably take some steps right now, on your birthday!
Your version of investing in yourself might be:
There’s no correct answer here; it’s whatever you need to move forward in the direction you want to go. Investing in yourself is a powerful way to affirm that you are worth the time, money, and effort.
Birthdays are often fun and joyous…but not always. On some birthdays, we just need a day of peace and quiet and a good cry. If that’s you this year, then do it!
Turn on your favorite tearjerker, re-read your favorite book about fatefully doomed lovers, or journal about some of the emotional challenges you’ve been facing this year. Getting your feelings out of your head and into the world can be a huge relief, allowing you to really prepare for the year ahead with a clear mind.
Self-care is often a private exercise, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you have a supportive group of loved ones who also value self-care, then doing it together can be a great way to bond and establish a self-care routine.
No matter what the “adults” might tell you, you’re never too old for a slumber party! If you have enough room in your apartment or house, have your closest friends over for a classic sleepover. (Or maybe do a daytime “sleepover” if you’re at the age where everyone has kids and can’t possibly do a real overnight.)
To make sure this is a “self-care slumber party” and not just a party, fill it thoughtfully with peaceful and restorative activities:
Depending on your budget and preference, you can host a spa day at home or actually go to a spa together. In addition to the classic mani/pedi, you could try something a little different like a Swedish massage, traditional Chinese acupuncture, or a float tank.
Being outdoors is healing to the spirit, even if you aren’t usually a big nature person. And if you are, even better! Gather up your friends or family members for a hike that fits your level of outdoorsy-ness—maybe it’s a short one-hour walk through a local park, or maybe it’s a weekend away with tents and campfires.
Mala or japamala necklaces are a string of beads used to count mantras or meditations related to traditional yoga practices, similar to a rosary. They’re often worn as necklaces and serve as a reminder to keep your mind focused on the intentions you’ve set. Because they’re fairly simple to make and charged with symbolic meaning, these necklaces can be the perfect self-care activity to do with friends on your birthday.
Tip: If you aren’t into the yogi thing, then you can use a similar idea for any kind of arts and crafts. The act of creating is soothing in and of itself, regardless of whether you attach any spiritual or energetic meaning to what you create.
Aimless shopping can be a fun and refreshing activity, especially if it involves spending time with friends. Head to a local shopping area and stop for lunch and coffee together.
If you don’t feel like going out, you could also sit down at the computer and just do some browsing of your go-to online boutiques. Create a moodboard of wishlist items for your wardrobe, your home, or your favorite hobby.
Tip: If you’re the kind of person who feels more disappointed than satisfied by window shopping, then try another activity. You know yourself best, so make sure that you’re treating yourself with the self-care you need on your birthday!
One of the best parts about committing to self-care with your friends is that you’ll have a set of accountability buddies. Use your birthday self-care day to come up with some ongoing goals for the year. For instance, maybe you’ll plan to have weekly:
Taking care of others can be nourishing to ourselves as well. Grab some friends and go volunteer somewhere, offering your time and energy to people who could use a helping hand.
Tip: Websites like Idealist or VolunteerMatch are very helpful for finding local opportunities near you.
If you’re feeling stuck in the rut of day-to-day life, letting loose is a definite form of treating yourself kindly. Invite friends to a local stand-up show, or relax at home with your favorite improv comedian, YouTubers, or Netflix comedy. A good laugh can change your outlook and help you feel ready to tackle another year—with all its joys and its challenges.
Organizing your living space is self-care at its best, and it’s definitely more fun when you have friends to help you sort through the junk. Watch a few episodes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, make some fresh-squeezed juice or healthy smoothies, and get to work!
Ask your closest friends to join you in reading an inspirational or personal development book, and then get together on your birthday to discuss what you learned and how you can apply it in the coming year.
Whether you’re planning for a solo self-care birthday or a restorative get-together with your closest friends, you now have plenty of ideas to play with!
Tweet
Pin
Share
