You can make your birthday even more meaningful with a birthday routine.
While birthdays are traditionally a time to gather with a big group of friends, blow out the candles, and open up gifts, not all of us are thrilled about celebrating our birthday.
Whether it’s the stress of trying to organize a birthday party or the thought of turning another year older, birthdays can be a sore subject for a lot of us.
But even if you don’t like to make a big deal about your birthday, it’s worth it to recognize and celebrate the occasion, if only for yourself. A birthday provides a special opportunity to reflect on the past year and experience gratitude for how far you’ve really come. It’s a chance to celebrate your achievements, reconnect with your goals, and appreciate yourself.
So if you don’t like to make a big fuss on your birthday or if you do like to go all out, you should still carve out some time for yourself and perform a birthday routine. It’s the ultimate way to give yourself some TLC on your birthday and make this day feel even more special for you.
Birthday supplies for your birthday routine
You can make your birthday routine feel even more celebratory by gathering your supplies beforehand. Here are some ideas for what to have around for your birthday routine.
A pretty new journal. Celebrate this new chapter in your life by opening up a fresh, new journal. There’s something about seeing the pretty cover and the blank pages inside that opens up all the possibilities for yourself in this new year.
A birthday candle. A pleasant smelling candle adds a ritualistic element to your birthday. The lighting of a new candle, the fragrance enveloping the room, and the flickering flame sets the stage for your birthday routine.
A birthday soundtrack. Music is so evocative and puts us in the right headspace for our birthday. Make a playlist of soothing music if you’re looking to start your birthday on a calm note. Or a playlist filled with energetic songs for an inspiring new year. You can even listen to this playlist years from now and be transported back to this specific year.
A birthday gift to yourself. Maybe it’s a new book by your favorite author. Or a necklace you’ve had your eye on. Or a delicious piece of cake. A birthday gift doesn’t have to be extravagant. A small but meaningful gift is a powerful gesture to yourself, one that affirms that you are worthy and loved.
Your birthday supplies don’t have to end here. Put together a special birthday outfit for going out or a pair of pajamas that you can lounge around in all day. Or gather your favorite pens and markers to get creative. This is your birthday routine and you can celebrate it the way you want.
Make a list of your favorite moments from the past year
Maybe you have a milestone birthday coming up and you’re feeling jittery about entering a new decade. To help ease the transition, use this time to reflect on the past year and list your favorite moments.
By recognizing all the wonderful people in your life, and the moments you experienced, you will not only feel gratitude for the past year, but optimism for the year ahead and all the wonderful things it has in store.
So break out your pretty new journal and rewind to the past year. If you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, then take in the past few years or decade.
Here are some prompts that you can use to help you do this exercise. Feel free to use them as mere suggestions or jumping off points.
- What moments made you happiest?
- What trips did you go on? What new restaurants did you try? What movies did you watch?
- What are you most proud of?
- Who did you enjoy spending time with?
- What challenges did you experience? How did you overcome them?
- What are some lessons you learned this past year?
- What are you looking forward to in your new year?
Make a list of birthday wishes for yourself
You give birthday wishes to loved ones so why not make some birthday wishes for yourself?
You’ll naturally be feeling more introspective around your birthday so it’s a great time to think about your dreams, goals, and wishes for yourself.
If you’re not feeling particularly excited about your birthday, use this as a chance to explore why. Did the past year feel blah? Or stressful? What would make your new year feel even better? What do you wish for yourself?
Set aside 30 minutes or an hour and break out your notebook and colorful pens. Light your birthday candle to gather yourself and get into a contemplative mood.
Think ahead. What dreams have you been putting off but always wanted to pursue? Maybe it’s learning how to play the guitar. Or traveling the world. Or starting your own business.
Think about small wishes, too. These can be changes you’d like to make to your current daily routine. Maybe you’d like more time for yourself. Or maybe you’d like to be more crafty and creative. Or maybe you’d like to have more time to read.
You can even write a birthday card to yourself and open it up whenever you need some extra motivation. A little visual reminder will inspire you to pursue your dream goals and put them at the forefront.
Create a birthday intention
You can also think about your intention for your birthday year. An intention is like a north star that helps you identify your priorities or goals. If you ever come to a crossroads about a personal or professional decision, you can look to your intention to guide you in the right direction.
Your intention can be one word, such as “community” or “collaboration.” It’s a word that conjures the kind of year you’d like to have and what you’d like to cultivate in the new year.
Your intention can also be a phrase or mantra. Examples: I want to take more risks. I want to get out of my comfort zone. I want to live more mindfully.
As you can see, a birthday routine is a great way to look fondly on your past year and enter your new year with confidence and optimism. We hope all your birthday wishes come true!
Written by JiJi Lee
