How to Spend a 40th Birthday Alone

A 40th birthday is a milestone that most people celebrate with lavish parties or a quiet night surrounded by family and friends. But you don't have to deprive yourself of a celebration just because you'll be alone on your special day. Try one of these ideas to start your 40th year off with a little pampering, relaxation or adventure.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Spoil yourself with forty gifts to commemorate the special day. While some may be as little as a caffé latte, others can be extravagant like a new outfit or a portable music player that you can enjoy on your commute to work.
2. Spend the day pampering yourself. Sleep until noon, get a massage, order takeout and watch an entire season of your favorite television show on DVD. Give yourself permission to be lazy today.
3. Go for a quiet walk on the beach or in a beautiful park and take stock of the last 40 years. Laugh at your most embarrassing moment and come to terms with your most heartbreaking. Reevaluate your goals and make new ones for the next 40.
4. Treat yourself to dinner. You can have a party for yourself without having to deal with any obnoxious guests. Go to your favorite restaurant to splurge at one you've been dying to try.
5. Experience something new to start the next chapter in your life. Sign up for a class to learn a new skill or hobby, go sky- or scuba-diving or buy a few outfits that are completely different than your typical style of dress.
6. Take a trip. If you're sad that you'll be spending your 40th birthday alone, explore a new city to get away from home. Talk to some locals, try a new cuisine or buy cool souvenirs that you can display at home to remind yourself of your spirit and independence.