How To Celebrate Your Birthday Alone 11 Steps With Pictures

Even if you’re just a toast-and-coffee-in-the-morning type, treat yourself to a better brew than you normally drink in the morning.

Consider going for a jog around town or on a nearby nature trail, or even a longer hike. You’re sure to have a good time on your favorite path or trail, but think about exploring new territory if at all possible. You may also want to go for a bike ride or just a stroll around town. If you don’t own a bike and you live in a city, look to see if there are any bike-share programs near you, which are becoming increasingly common and which offer a cheap way to see the sites.

Your solo birthday should be about you doing exactly what you want to do, so whether you decide to stay in or go out, be sure to choose a fun or relaxing activity of some sort. [1] X Expert Source Jennifer Guttman, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 26 July 2021. Because the day is completely yours, you don’t have to worry about accommodating anyone else’s tastes or preferences!

If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, try your hand at such comforting classics as sweet potatoes and pot roast. You could also record one of your favorite cooking shows in advance and try out a new recipe; cook along with the host and it will feel like a party (especially if you cook with a glass of wine!). If you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the time, you can order in or go to your favorite restaurant. [2] X Expert Source Jennifer Guttman, PsyDLicensed Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 26 July 2021. Be sure that you’re ordering something you want and enjoy—today is all about you!

If baking is your thing, treat yourself to a made-from-scratch dessert such as cheesecake or French apricot tart. If you’d rather go out and get a dessert, you can! If you’re eating out for dinner as well, considering choosing a place that has a great dessert menu (don’t be shy to let your server know that it’s your birthday—you may get dessert on the house), but it could be fun to go someplace else for dessert and coffee or wine. If sweets aren’t your thing, then choose a nice cheese platter with a great wine pairing, or anything that you consider to be a treat that you wouldn’t eat every day. If you’re celebrating your birthday alone because you’re physically separated from your friends and family, this would be an excellent time to FaceTime or Skype with them. Put a candle on your dessert and let someone else sing “Happy Birthday” to you.

You may have to spend most of your special day at work, but check your calendar to see if you can head out a bit earlier to hit your favorite bakery or take a little extra time lingering over your breakfast at home. Of course, if you’d rather get every last bit of shut-eye that you can in the morning—especially on your birthday morning, check to see if you can afford to take a longer lunch or possibly take off from work a bit earlier than normal. [3] X Research source If you have vacation or personal days available, consider using them on this special day. [4] X Research source

If at all possible, try to make travel plans a few weeks in advance in order to get the best deals. This will include making decisions about transportation,making hotel reservations, and packing for your trip. It’s always fun to return to a favorite place, but don’t rule out going somewhere entirely new.

In the weeks and days leading up to your birthday, visit the websites of your favorite restaurants and businesses to see if they offer anything special on customers’ birthdays. You may have to sign up to be on a mailing list or more likely an email list. Alternatively, don’t be afraid to ask at the counter of the businesses you frequent in person to see if they have special birthday programs. Many coffee houses and restaurants have birthday deals available, but don’t forget to check in with other places such as your stylist’s or masseuse’s.

You may decide that you want to save the present shopping for the actual day of your birthday, especially if you really enjoy browsing and shopping and want to incorporate that as part of the day’s festivities. However, if you won’t have time to shop for yourself on your birthday, or if the last thing you want to do in your precious free time is head to the mall, then be sure to select something awesome for yourself in advance, so that you’ll have it on your birthday. If you shop in the store, see if the clerk is able to gift-wrap it for you. Yes, that may sound a bit silly (it’s not like you don’t know what’s in the package, after all), but there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy the ritual of unwrapping a carefully selected gift. Alternatively, select something special for yourself online and be sure to arrange the shipping so that it will arrive before or on your birthday. Whatever you buy should of course be informed by your budget, but keep in mind that you are worth splurging on. Try to choose something that you really want, that seems fun, and that you think would make you happy, even if it seems a bit frivolous. Is there something you’ve always secretly wished someone else would get for you, even though you swore you’d never buy it for yourself? Be that person for yourself on this very special day!

Tidy up your home in the day or two before your birthday. For most people, it’s hard to relax in a mess, and you want your home, especially for your solo birthday celebration, to be an oasis. [8] X Research source Make the place look festive: you can go all out with streamers and balloons, or just brighten up the space with a small bunch of fresh flowers (another splurge item you might not buy yourself regularly) or candles. Choose your birthday outfit the night before: pick something that’s comfortable and makes you feel awesome about yourself. If you’re eating breakfast at home and/or bringing your lunch to work, make the preparations the night before so that you don’t have to rush in the morning.