Happy birthday to you… I guess!
Let’s admit it, as we grow older (and wiser), birthdays are not as exciting as when we were kids and had no worries in the world other than when the next zoo visit was or when the ice cream truck would come around. And I’m here to tell you that we can still look forward to another year around the sun without having to plan for an elaborate and fancy party.
Birthdays should be treated as special milestones, and we should be grateful for another awesome year, even though there may be ups and downs. It’s also a perfect time to reflect on our achievements and enjoy some fun, simple activities that can make the day even more memorable.
If you’re looking for fun activities or challenges to try differently for your birthday, here are a few ideas.
1. Set goals
I’ve always been a fan of setting goals during the new year, but lately, I’ve been thinking, Why wait until New Year’s to do it? Think of your birthdays as your own personal new year. You can use this day to reflect on where you are in life and where you want to go next.
Sit down with a cup of coffee (or birthday drink, why not?), some music playing in the background, and a notebook in hand. Jot down all the things you want to achieve in the coming year. Whether it’s big or small goal, it doesn’t matter.
The most important thing is putting pen to paper, which makes those goals feel more real and official. And the best part? You get to celebrate your progress and growth when your next birthday rolls around.
2. Plan a day trip for yourself
This next idea isn’t something you want to leave until the last minute. It needs to be planned ahead of time, ideally a day or two before your special day. Make sure to keep the plan simple and stress-free. After all, this is your special day, and the last thing you want is to be weighed down by preparations.
Maybe there’s an art exhibition happening in your city that you’ve been dying to check out. Or go to the nearest beach in your town, pack a picnic, and enjoy some sun, sea breeze, and relaxation. Even book a wine tasting tour you’ve been wanting to try out for months.
Plan something that brings you joy, without adding any unnecessary stress. This day trip is all about you, so don’t feel guilty indulging a little more than you used to.
3. Write a letter to your future self
This is such a fun little activity you can do in less than 10 minutes. Start writing a letter to your older self. There are no rules. You can just pour your heart out, jot down your wildest dreams, or simply reflect on how you’re feeling in that moment.
You get to seal up that letter and put it away somewhere safe. And when your next birthday rolls around, or maybe even five or ten birthdays later, you pull it out again and read what you wrote. And I’m sure you won’t even remember one sentence from it. Just like in grade school, where we get to create a time capsule to be opened at a future date.
Grab a pen and some fancy stationery if you like, and let your heart out on paper. But if you’re more of a digital person, I recommend using a website like FutureMe.org, where you can easily compose your letter online. You can just type out your message, choose the date you want it to be received, and sometime in the future, a little surprise message will be in your email inbox.
4. Bake your own cake from scratch
Oh, I know, you could easily pop by the bakery and pick up a ready-made cake, but imagine the sheer joy and satisfaction of whipping up your very own delicious birthday masterpiece.
I’ll admit, I used to be the one to say, “Why bother baking when you can just buy it?” But then adulthood hit me, and I learned about the beautiful art of baking. And there’s no better occasion to make homemade cakes than your own birthday, in my opinion.
The exciting part is that you get to make it however you want. Go wild with decorations, sprinkle those colorful sprinkles, or whip up the most crazy design. There are tons of simple cake base recipes online to choose from, so even if you’re not exactly a pro in the kitchen, you’ll still be able to whip up something delicious.
Whether your cake turns out Instagram-worthy or a little on the wonky side, don’t forget to take photos of the process. And most importantly, enjoy every bite of that cake you made with your own two hands.
READ MORE: 30 Ways to Romanticize Your Everyday Life
5. Document your whole day
This can be a fun little project that you can do for your birthday. Be sure you capture every single moment by documenting your whole day.
Maybe consider creating an art journal. This is like your own zine or scrapbook, where you can write down what happens throughout your day. Stick in that receipt from the restaurant where you enjoyed dinner with the fam, doodle what you drank at the cafe with your bestie, or even snap a picture of your outfit of the day and add it in.
But if you’re more of a shutterbug, snap photos of everything from your morning coffee to blowing out the candles on your cake. Here’s a pro tip: don’t just leave it on your phone and forget about it; make sure to print those photos and collect them in a binder or album. That way, you’ll have a physical keepsake to look back on for years to come.
Another idea is to record a few seconds of your day’s happenings in a video and edit them into a short mini-movie you can share or watch with your family. After all, birthdays only come around once a year, so why not make the most of it?
6. Create a vision board for a year ahead
Get creative and curate a collage of your dream life. Gather up a bunch of old magazines, some scissors, glue, and cardboard. Look for photos or words that represent your goals and aspirations.
Whether it’s a picture of a cute little cottage in the countryside or a short quote that motivates you to chase your dreams, cut it out and stick it on your board, and make it a little more aesthetic.
Add pictures related to travel to foreign destinations or a hobby like painting or gardening. Maybe you’ve been dreaming of landing your dream job or finding your soulmate. Whatever it is, stick it on your vision board.
Then find a special spot to display it in your room. It could be beside your bed, on your desk, or anywhere you’ll see it every day. Make it a constant reminder of what you’re working towards. So when your next birthday comes around, take a look at your vision board and see how many of those visions you’ve brought to life.
7. Treat yourself to a fancy dinner
The entire year has been a little busy, and you always put off treating yourself. Well, on your birthday, why not throw all your responsibilities out for a day and treat yourself to a fancy dinner?
I’m all about embracing comfort on a daily basis (hello, comfy jogging pants and oversized shirts), but there’s something so lovely about dressing up for a special occasion. So, grab that fancy dress that’s been hiding in the back of your closet and add a little something to your birthday celebration.
Check out that new and exciting restaurant you’ve seen on a friend’s Instagram stories. Maybe there’s a hotel restaurant up on the high floor with a stunning view of the city lights. Or perhaps you’ve never tried that luxurious three-course feast in a traditional Japanese restaurant before. Make sure it’s something that makes you feel special and pampered.
8. Plan a year of adventures
We all know it, half the fun of going on adventures is the planning stage, right?
So start listing down all the places you’ve been dreaming of visiting in the year ahead. Whether it’s a road trip along the stunning states, camping under the milky way in the mountains, or finally exploring your the city you live in.
I recommend that you also invest in experiences. You can plan a few things you’ve always wanted to try. Maybe it’s enrolling in guitar lessons to finally master that instrument you’ve been eyeing or testing yourself with some indoor rock climbing. Or it could even be as simple as diving into a book series that a best friend has been raving about.
Don’t hold back and write down as many places and experiences as you want, no matter how unlikely they may seem. Just by seeing those dreams written down on paper, you’ll start to realize what things truly matter to you.