Turn up the fun: 50 Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday
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Make this your best yet.
Do you celebrate your birthday?
You know, actually plan something to commemorate the special occasion?
As moms, we make sure to celebrate our children’s birthdays; it wouldn’t occur to us to just let one of these “slip” by.
And yet… it seems many of us, myself included, do not make a “to-do” over our own special day.
I actually found some “fun facts” about Americans and birthdays.
9 in 10 Americans feel it is important to celebrate birthdays (89%).85% Feel special when someone puts energy into planning their birthday.
6 in 10 Americans make a wish when they blow out their candles (62%).
Only 1 in 10 say celebrating birthdays is not important at all 3%, and 8% say it is not very important.
There are a lot of other fascinating facts in this paper, including information on how people celebrate, the importance of shout outs on social media, and opinions by age groups if you want to take a closer look.
What I found most interesting was that most Americans think it is important to celebrate your birthday, yet, most adults I know, do not celebrate their special day.
Why many adults choose NOT to celebrate their birthdays.
There can be a variety of reasons, however, these seem to be the top ones:
1. Money
2. No one will come/no one cares
3. Don’t want to be center of attention
4. Negative association with past birthdays
5. Cultural/Religious reasons
6. Avoid the birthday, avoid mortality/aging
7. Don’t want to plan their own party
I am totally the last one!
Between you and me, I would love a party!
I love people and noise and music and celebrations.
This sounds like a party to me.
However, I have spent the last 27+ years making a “to-do” over my children’s birthdays and milestones.
I have tried to create memorable holidays in our home.
I am tired of the planning, cooking, preparation, cleaning, inviting, and work that goes into an event/occasion.
It’s my birthday and I don’t want to have to work that hard on “my day.”
That being said, I do wish, each and every year, I had done something.
The reality is, if I don’t do something, it simply will not happen.
I think this is the case for many of us moms.
I also believe that there are a lot of benefits to celebrating your birthday.
7 Reasons to Celebrate Your Birthday
1. Reflect on the past year and look towards the next.
2. Feel gratitude for the people in your life.
3. Acknowledge growth and accomplishments.
4. Build connections with loved ones.
5. Experience the joy of human connection.
6. It is unique to you-you can indulge.
7. A birthday often inspires treating yourself or self-care.
I realize you may be like me and not want to plan the big event.
However, also like me, you may want to have a little something special to commemorate your special day.
I have 50 ideas that require very few people, if any, little planning, and range in cost.
The last one, I did for my 40th birthday party, I did have to plan it.
However, I loved it and still have very fond memories.
I was actually going to do something similar when I turned 50, and then there was Covid…need I say more?
50 Fabulous Birthday Ideas:
1. Go on a getaway weekend.
2. Take a spa or “you” day.
3. Choose a genre and have a movie marathon, with all of the snacks!
4. Try something new, like a restaurant or hiking path.
5. Bake, buy, or coerce someone else to make, but get a birthday cake, make a wish, and blow out your candles.
6. Take a hot air balloon ride.
7. Not enough adventure? Try skydiving!
8. Reflection: write down all of your resentments, regrets, and sorrows on individual pieces of paper. Think on each one and then throw it in a fire pit as you mentally prepare your self to release it.
9. Reflection: on the flip side, write down your blessings in life on individual pieces of paper. Tie them with colorful ribbons to a tree or a plant in your house to remind yourself of the positivity in your life.
10. Retail therapy. Go out and buy yourself an absolutely fabulous birthday present.
11. Try birdwatching.
I found some fun facts about this one, in case you are interested!
95% of birdwatchers emphasized the significant importance of birdwatching for relaxation and stress relief.
87% of birdwatchers spend about $100 – $499 annually on their wild bird hobby.
This may be one of the least expensive hobbies out there!
12. Enjoy a peaceful afternoon of kayaking or grab the canoe.
13. Visit a national park.
Have you been to the ones near you?
I have yet to visit one close by me that I am excited to see:
Antelope Canyon
14. Attend a concert or live musical performance.
15. Take a class at the local community college, whether it is exercise, travel, finances or computer, just expand!
16. Plan a game night with friends (yes this is a favorite for me).
I combine it with #39 for very little effort.
17. Get in the car and go! Plan a scenic drive.
18. Attend statewide fair or festival.
In Arizona, some of our top rated festivals included: State Fair, M3F, Tacolandia, Mortimer Farms Pumpkin Festival, and the Renaissance Festival.
19. Visit a museum that interests you.
There are so many types to choose from!
Musical Instrument, Children’s, Air and Space, Art, Science, and History to name a few.
20. Explore a new trail with an E-bike.
21. Attend a Spring Training or minor league game.
22. Find a cause you love and get involved.
23. Go stargazing.
24. Get the adrenaline pumping with some zip-lining!
If the “average” zip-line is still too tame for you, head to Out of Africa in AZ for the Predator Zip Line!
25. Spelunking. Explore a cave or cavern.
26. Show your true colors…have a fun day with paintball.
27. Take dance lessons, with a friend or meet new ones.
28. Start a book club.
Did you know that reading is the the number 2 hobby in the US?
Here’s how to start your own book club.
29. Take a scenic train ride-get to know you down area as a tourist.
30. Rent an RV and go camping.
This is what I am doing this year!
31. Try karaoke, stand-up comedy, or a poetry slam..but get in front of the world.
32. Plan a DIY craft night like a paint and sip.
33. Go ice skating or roller blading.
34. Enjoy an afternoon of geocaching, a scavenger hunt you did not have to plan.
35. Plan an old-fashioned picnic in a place you love that brings you peace.
36. Participate in a scavenger hunt or story hunt.
There are several online apps so you can play the game and it has been preplanned for you.
Try strayboots.com and Questo (I have done both these and loved them).
37. Horseback riding.
38. Expand your horizons in mindfulness.
Learn to stretch, meditate, take yoga, or just do a quiet activity that relaxes and rejuvenates you.
39. Plan a group potluck dinner.
Invite friends over and have them bring the “eats!”
40. Putt-Putt can be a time of just laughter and fun.
41. Test your strength with an indoor rock climbing wall or head outside for some bouldering.
42. Get tickets to your next local film festival.
43. Light up the fire pit; people feel connected around a fire.
44. Food truck feast night.
45. Girls’ night at a luxurious hotel.
46. Choose a room that just doesn’t represent you anymore and redecorate.
47. Host your own food or beverage “testing” with everyone bringing their own to put in the line up.
It can be anything like wine, home brews, charcuterie boards, fruit, desserts, kabobs, the sky is literally the limit!
48. Pick two or three friends or family members and head to an escape room.
49. Celebrate you at this age and plan a photoshoot.
50. My favorite and I did this at 40.
I invited everyone to a Hibachi Grill, I paid.
I ordered an amazing cake at a local bakery.
I had each woman buy a pre-ordered plate, so they are all the same size, at a local pottery shop.
It is this plate that would be my birthday present; this is why I bought dinner.
I brought wine and drinks, the cake, and music into the pottery shop, which we reserved for the night.
Each person was to paint something that reminded them of me or our relationship.
I then put all of these plates above my cupboards in my kitchen, so I am surrounded by the wonderful wishes of these amazing ladies each and every day.
In the ten plus years since this magical birthday, one of these friends has died.
I am so glad I have her plate.
Celebrate your birthday, do more than become “a year older.”
Turn your special day into a moment to pause, reflect, and yes, enjoy yourself freely.
Remember, every birthday is a milestone worth celebrating as a testament to your journey and the blessings that come with it.
I provided 50 ways to celebrate your birthday so that you can find a way to make a big deal out of your birthday!