If you’re a mom, time alone should be at the top of your birthday wish list. Here are ways for mom to celebrate her birthday solo to fill that glorious alone time!
It is super fun to celebrate your birthday with friends and family. I love doing something fun with my kids or spending time with my friends on or around my birthday to celebrate another trip around the sun. But I also love to do something just for myself, by myself on my birthday too. As a mom of young kids, I don’t nearly enough time for myself. If I can’t have some on my birthday, it’s hard to imagine when I can!
If you’re a mom with young kids at home, you know what I mean. It’s such a gift to have a stretch of time without wiping anyone’s butt, anyone asking you for something to eat, or anyone touching you. But what do you do with this amazing alone time on your birthday? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are ways for mom to celebrate her birthday solo that get my stamp of approval.
10 Ways for Mom to Celebrate Her Birthday Solo
No work
If you have a job outside of the home, please take the day off work if you can swing it. It’s no fun at all to give your special day to “the man.” Plus, taking the day off work opens up your day to do something for yourself from this list. For mom to celebrate her birthday solo, she needs a block of time to do it – and this is how you get that block of available time!
Beauty treatment
If you are a lady who likes to enjoy a beauty treatment, don’t squander this opportunity to book one! A beauty treatment is a perfect way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo because it’s a set amount of time that you kind of have to be alone. Book a haircut, a nail appointment, a facial, a massage. Heck, book a few and have a complete spa day – you deserve it!
Shopping
When moms go shopping with their kids, it’s far from enjoyable. You’re barely able to look at what you’re shopping for as you wrangle children, get snacks, and try to get in and out as fast as humanly possible. That means going shopping without your kids is a perfect way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo. Take your time. Browse. Buy nothing at all or a whole new wardrobe. The enjoyment is in the activity, not necessarily the haul (although a haul is good!).
Dine out
Some people hate to eat out alone. If you fall in that category, feel free to skip to the next idea of ways for mom to celebrate her birthday solo. If eating out by yourself doesn’t give you the willies, I highly recommend considering how you can fit a solo meal out into your special day.
Eating out alone can be so fun. Sit at the bar and strike up a conversation with the bartender or your neighbor. Sit at a table and bring a book to read while you wait for your food. Regardless of where you sit, people watching is definitely on the table. A solo meal out lets you enjoy a meal you didn’t have to make, no clean-up required! If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot!
Treat
If you aren’t on board with eating a whole meal at a restaurant solo, at least stop and get yourself a little treat. You get to choose where you stop and what you get! In the mood for a fancy coffee? Head to your favorite coffee shop! Would you rather have a sweet treat? Pick up a small (or large!) treat at the local bakery. This way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo doesn’t have to take much time, so if you’re crunched for time on your special day, this is a great option!
Movie
When I was in college, I loved to go to the movie theatre by myself. I went to college in Miami, so the movie theatre was a great way to take a break in a cool place when I’d had enough. Unfortunately, when real life started after college, I totally dropped this self-care practice. What better time to bring it back than on my birthday? If you’re looking for a nice, cool place to lose yourself in a fantasy world, consider taking yourself to a movie for your birthday. It’s good for the soul!
Museum
If you are more into learning something about the real world than escaping it, going to a museum is a great way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s just not enjoyable to go to a museum with other people. It’s rare that you and whoever you are with are into exactly the same things and want to spend exactly the same amount of time at each exhibit. If you go to a museum by yourself on your birthday, you don’t have to worry about what anyone else wants to see or do so you can do the museum entirely on your terms. Then, you can share what you learned with your family and friends. Sounds pretty great to me!
Beach/pool
I’m mostly talking to the moms with summer birthdays with this one. Although if you have a winter birthday, I give you full permission to travel to a warm place to go to the beach on your birthday if that’s what you want to do.
I have a summer birthday, so sitting by or in some sort of water is usually an option for me. And I often take advantage of this option. I put by swimsuit on, throw a book, some sunscreen, and a towel into my pool bag, and spend as much time as I can just relaxing. Is there a better way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo than with her feet in the sand or the water? I’ll wait.
Exercise
If getting your blood pumping makes you feel happiest and most alive, I highly recommend fitting some sort of exercise into your birthday plans. Book a spot in an exercise class at your local gym, go for a run or even just a walk, or dial up a YouTube workout video. Who doesn’t want a few more endorphins on their birthday?
Read
A great way for mom to celebrate her birthday solo if she’s more of a homebody is to kick everyone out of the house and curl up with a good book. Yep, that’s it! Just make sure it’s a good book. You’d hate to waste your birthday alone time on a book that’s a piece of garbage. Need a recommendation for a good book? Here are a few I’ve really enjoyed lately:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – It’s a rom com, it’s emotional, it’s old Hollywood glamour – it’s everything you could want in a book.
- All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – If you enjoy historical fiction, you’ve got to read this book.
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – If you’re a woman, you need to read this book.
Other posts
Are you looking for other ways to prioritize yourself every now and then? Here are some more posts that help make being a mom a little easier.
I hope I’ve inspired you to take some time for yourself on your birthday this year. Tell me, what do you do solo on your birthday every year? Share down below or over on Instagram @sarainseason!