Things to Do On Your Birthday Alone

Things to Do On Your Birthday Alone Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print 10 Things to Do on Your Birthday Alone By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on July 01, 2019 facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Dont Do, and a highly sought-after speaker. Learn about our Wellness Board Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on October 10, 2019 More in Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment and Therapy Work and School Related Conditions Finding things to do on your birthday alone might leave you feeling lonely. Birthdays are generally fun when you are a child. As you grow older, birthdays become a nuisance for some in that they are a reminder that you are getting older. For people who live  with social anxiety disorder (SAD), they can also be a reminder of the difficulty that you have with social situations.?? On the other hand, if youve never enjoyed birthdays, this day of the year may bring back bad memories. As a way of starting a new tradition, even if you find yourself alone on your birthday this year, try to make a special day for you?. If you start planning now, you will find it is not that hard. Verywell /  Nusha Ashjaee 1. Start Fresh Use this opportunity to start fresh in some area of your life. Go the traditional route and do a makeover on your outside: that might mean a new haircut, new outfit, or even something a little riskier like a tattoo. Choose styles that give you confidence and a new outlook. Or, go the less traditional route, and treat yourself to an internal makeover: read a self-improvement book, take a workshop, or start writing in a journal. Read books to work on coping with social anxiety so that you will not be alone on future birthdays. 2. Create Something Even if no one is coming over, you can still have a birthday cake. If youre not into baking, buy a store-made version. However, if you really want to enjoy your day, dont take this shortcut. Take your time and enjoy the process of baking a cake. Feel proud of what you have accomplished. Share leftovers with a neighbor and consider it an opportunity to make a new friend. 3. Be Generous Toward Yourself If you arent expecting anyone to give you gifts, treat yourself to something new. Choose a gift that might help you with your social anxiety such as chamomile tea, or buy an item for your home/dorm/bedroom to spruce it up. 4. Exercise Outdoors Exercise helps to clear your mind and hiking outdoors gives you a chance to connect with nature. Get outside and go for a hike, walk around your neighborhood, or a stroll along the beach (if you are so lucky to live near one). Feel proud about spending your birthday out of the house and being proactive about your physical and mental health. Bring your dog, if you have one, and let his natural joy and curiosity lead the way. 5. Take in a Movie Treat yourself to a night out at the movies even if you will be going alone. Lift your spirits with a comedy. Go at a time when you know the theater is likely to be full. Laugh out loud and dont worry what others think. Consider it a behavioral experiment to see whether people are really paying as much attention to you as you think that they are. 6. Volunteer Your Time Consider offering your services as a volunteer. Spend time chatting with people at a retirement or nursing home or offer to walk dogs at an animal shelter. You might even make new friends and become a regular volunteer. This is a perfect way to challenge your social anxiety and build your social skills. Be sure to call in advance to learn about any requirements prior to helping out. 7. Read a Book Your birthday is the perfect time to sit down with a book youve been dying to read. Start that novel or non-fiction book you have had on your list. Curl up with a good book and you might be surprised how quickly the day passes. You could even take this a step further and read a self-help book to work on overcoming your social anxiety. 8. Go About Your Routine Make your birthday just like any other day. Go about your usual routine. Dont mention to anyone that it is your birthday. This strategy works best if you are not much into birthday celebrations anyway. 9. Plan a Party for Next Year Start thinking about next year if you dont want to be alone on your birthday again. Are there relatives you could visit or friends that you could invite over for dinner? Take the year to make new connections so that you dont find yourself alone again this time next year. 10. Be Appreciative Birthdays are a reminder of how much time has passed and potentially how much time we have left. Take the time to appreciate the positive things in your life, even if you are alone on your birthday. If you have a roof over your head, food on the table, access to education, and running water, you are actually ahead of a good portion of the worlds population. Over time, this type of gratitude will become a habit and will serve you well in improving all aspects of your life. How to Cultivate Gratitude A Word From Verywell Occasionally finding yourself alone on your birthday should not be cause for concern. However, if this pattern repeats every year, and it is distressing for you, consider whether reaching out for help might be a better option. If severe social anxiety prevents you from making and keeping friends, treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication may help.??