self love ways to spend your birthday alone
My birthday is around the corner, and I’m the biggest birthday person. I love celebrating myself and having fun with loved ones around me. But I feel like it’s not always sunshine and butterflies.
Sometimes I dread my birthday and the disappointment that can come with people dropping out of plans or leaving me alone to celebrate by myself. I tend to take it personally and feel bad about myself.
This year, I want to focus on myself and be content (and genuinely happy) celebrating my birthday with myself. I want to beat that birthday sadness and prepare my favorite things that I know that I’ll love doing.
Celebrating your birthday alone is great because you can plan your own itinerary with all your favorite activities and meals -- without fearing disappointment or pressure from others.
So here are some self love birthday ideas for you to celebrate on your own!
Self love birthday ideas:
get yourself a cake: I love birthday cake. It’s one of my favorite (if not favorite) things about birthdays.
I like to find a cute design on Pinterest or TikTok to give a bakery for inspiration. There’s something so special about having your own cake, and you can even enjoy it the whole week. I even like to have it for breakfast the next day after my birthday (because why not?)
You can get a small (or regular!) sized cake for yourself. And if you’re not a cake person, get your favorite dessert! I’ve had friends who’ve had doughnuts instead of a birthday cake because they just liked them better. Whether it’s ice cream, brownies, cookies or even cereal (shout out to the Twitches fans!), put a candle on it and enjoy.
treat yourself with a gift: We all love gifts, right? I know you’ve been eyeing a piece of jewelry, a purse, cute shoes, a new electronic or appliance, decorations for your apartment or home, or something!
Splurge on yourself and get something special (or a couple things) that you know you’ll like.
It’s so important for me to treat myself in different ways as part of my self love journey, and I feel like there’s no better day to do that than on your birthday.
buy yourself the flowers: As a society, I feel like we’re turning away from feeling like we need a romantic partner to buy us flowers. If you enjoy having flowers, buy them for yourself, especially if it’s your birthday.
I wasn’t always a flowers girl. In fact, I didn’t like them for all my adult life. But I’m kind of getting into the hype when it comes to flowers. They're so pretty and feminine.
It’s such a great addition to my apartment and breathes life into it. So this is your sign to buy yourself flowers because it’s your special occasion, and you deserve them.
take advantage of freebies: My favorite thing to do on my birthday when I was a teenager is drive around with my parents and rack up all the birthday freebies you can get at different places. To this day, I love a deal, and I always appreciate the free things.
I love to get a free drink from Starbucks, a small bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes, and free mini gifts from Sephora and Ulta.
If you have any places you love to go to, comment them below! I’m always interested in finding new places to add to my list.
solo restaurant date: Go out for a birthday meal. It really can be breakfast, lunch or dinner.
I’ve heard so many great stories online of people going to restaurants alone and receiving really great service. The restaurant staff usually seem nice and celebratory. You may even get free or discounted drinks or dessert!
When it comes to your birthday, other people shouldn’t determine what you do to celebrate. Birthday dinners and meals are such a common way to celebrate you, so I think going out and enjoying yourself at a nice spot is such a great way to practice self love.
Sit at the bar if you want some conversation or a lively interaction. Or get a table if you want some privacy and valuable time with yourself.
Get dressed up: I know it’s birthday week when I’m getting my hair and nails done. I love maintenance, and I love dressing up for a special occasion.
I’m a girly girl, so all the fun stuff when it comes to getting ready for an event or trip is exciting to me. I want to look my best on my favorite day of the year.
There’s something so thrilling about choosing what hairstyle you want to rock around the time of your birthday, and I have so much fun spending time on Pinterest and TikTok choosing what look I want to pull off.
No matter what you end up doing, whether it’s more relaxed or something fancy, spend your birthday feeling confident about what you have on.
Other self love birthday activity ideas:
Spa day: Take a trip to the spa for a personal massage or facial. Try out the spa’s specialities and enjoy the peaceful time to yourself.
Movies: If there’s a movie you’ve been dying to see, or if you just want to take a trip away from reality, go to the movies on your birthday. I love going to the movies by myself because I get to lock in and enjoy the moment.
Shopping: Another reminder to treat yourself! Go shopping, and splurge on yourself a little because you deserve it.
Roadtrip: These are so fun, and I honestly might prefer solo roadtrips to a nearby place or city. I love blasting my favorite tunes, stopping at food places that sound good to me and setting my own itinerary.
Take a class: It can be pottery, cooking, dancing, workout, sewing, photography, etc. Taking a class is a great way to learn something new, while being open to gaining a new skill on your birthday.
