Believe it or not, that feeling of sadness you may experience on your birthday isn’t all that uncommon. And, there’s even a name for it: birthday depression. So how do you combat those birthday blues? Here are a few helpful tips.
Let Yourself Experience the Emotions
Sometimes, letting yourself wallow in your feelings can be beneficial. Think of it as venting for your emotions. If you allow yourself to feel them, you are more likely to purge them and move on faster. Take the time to deal with what you’re feeling so you can enjoy your birthday without those thoughts weighing you down.
Leave the Grand Gestures Out of It
Putting too much pressure on your birthday celebration will undoubtedly result in your expectations not being met. So, rather than hyping yourself up, keep things within range. Talk to your family, friends, or significant other before your birthday to nail down what you’ll do to celebrate. You’ll know exactly what to expect and are less likely to feel disappointed.
Give Back
When you give back, whether it’s donating your time or goods to a charity, you’re immediately setting yourself up for a positive experience. For this reason, giving back is a strong move for your birthday, even if it’s just a portion of your day.
Don’t Dwell on the Past
For some people, the past is the driving factor of birthday depression. Whether you haven’t accomplished all you wanted to by a certain age, don’t have the familial structure you anticipated, or otherwise miss your youth, birthday depression can revolve around your regrets or missteps. However, it’s important to look at what you have accomplished and focus on future goals. Remind yourself you have a lot to look forward to!
Make Plans You Want
We often feel that we have to “go big” for our birthday celebrations. However, if you experience birthday depression, don’t feel like you need to have the “birthday of all birthdays.” Instead, make it about doing what you actually want. Would you rather stay at home and watch a movie marathon? Then make that happen! If you need to set aside a day to celebrate with others, choose another date with less pressure on it.
Let Others In
Just because you’re experiencing the birthday blues doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Birthday depression is very real, and, likely, others you know experience it as well. By telling someone, you have an ally that can help you manage the day, and you may even find yourself enjoying it more. When in doubt, talk it out.
What are some things you do to beat the birthday blues? Share your tips in the comments below!