7 Relaxing Ways to Spend Your Birthday
It’s Okay to Relax
I know that it’s easy to stress out about birthdays. People ask what you’re going to do, and you feel like you have to come up with something amazing, or get all dressed up to take the perfect photo. But the truth is, you don’t have to do any of that. You absolutely can if you want to, but you do not have to. It’s okay to wear PJs or sweats all day. It’s okay not to put on makeup. It’s okay to spend your day the way you want to. Birthdays don’t always have to be high energy and go, go, go. You can sleep in and do something nice for yourself, with a friend, or with your pets. I’ve rounded up 7 ways to relax on your birthday, so let’s dive in and enjoy.
1. Treat Yourself to a Swedish Massage
My mom gifted me a Swedish massage for my 25th birthday, and I really enjoyed it. It was the first Swedish massage I ever got, and I highly recommend it if you’ve been feeling stressed and just want to feel taken care of and a little pampered. Swedish massages are specifically focused on relaxation, but you can choose other massage types as well, like a deep tissue massage that focuses on targeting specific stiff spots in your body. You will most likely feel very relaxed and sleepy afterwards, so I would personally plan to spend 30 minutes or an hour at a nearby place to wake up and do some shopping or grab a coffee or snack. I got my massage at Contempo Salon Studios in Ann Arbor at Spa Jina. I chose the hour massage for $100. She has times running from 30 minutes to 2 hours for the Swedish massage, and prices range from $60 to $200 for it.
I really like Spa Jina and her studio because there was nice relaxing music, the lights were dimmed, I felt safe, and Jina is very kind. We talked a little bit during the beginning and middle of the massage, but I was also able to just relax and didn’t feel pressure to have a conversation. So if you want to talk a bit, Jina is kind and conversational, but she also lets you just relax and won’t engage you in conversation during your massage unless you start a conversation first.
Her Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are priced the same, so she actually asks if there are any specific areas you have tension and would like her to work on when you get a Swedish massage. I really liked this because it kind of combined 2 massages and allowed me to relax, but also helped release some tension in stiff places like my shoulders and lower back.
Will I Fall Asleep?
It is normal if you fall asleep for a little bit. I personally did towards the end of the massage, probably for the last ten minutes. So I did feel sleepy afterwards and walked around a store, World Market, in the same shopping complex for about an hour. I got some cute items and woke up before driving home.
Do You Have to Undress?
A lot of people ask if you undress for a massage. At Spa Jina, you do undress fully, or you can keep your underwear on. You lie flat on the table face down on your tummy for the Swedish massage, and there is a nice blanket over you at all times, so Jina only sees your back, arms, and legs. As a woman, I felt comfortable with a woman massage therapist, and her studio is private, meaning that the door is closed so that no strangers can walk by and see you.
2. Relax with a Head Spa
If you don’t feel comfortable with a massage therapist touching your whole body, but still want to relax, try a head spa. I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy getting my hair washed when I go to get my haircut. It’s just relaxing. The warm water, the little massage when they do shampoo and conditioner. It’s just nice.
A head spa is a lot like that. They basically massage your head and neck and clean, detoxify, and nourish your scalp. They can also analyze your scalp under a microscope to determine the best products to use on your scalp. I think some may also style your hair after drying it.
This is something I really want to try, and I’ve heard great things about Jaycee Hodgkins in Ann Arbor at My Salon Suites. She offers a 75-minute $90 head spa and a 105-minute $120 head spa. You can book either here. She also offers skincare and nail services.
3. Go to the Mall for Some Shopping and Food
Go to the mall with a friend to do some shopping and grab lunch or dinner. I did this with a friend to celebrate turning 20 and again on my 23rd birthday. We looked around the Twelve Oaks mall, bought a few things, took some cute pictures, and got lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. This would be a great thing to do if there is a lot of rain or snow on your birthday, and you want to stay warm.
4. See a New Movie at the Theater or Rent One at Home
Go to the movies with a friend or rent a movie at home. You can dress comfy in sweats or to match the vibe of the movie. For example, when I saw Barbie, I wore a pink shirt and some cute pumps. Make sure to grab some popcorn and candy and snap a picture with the movie poster.
Or set up a cute spot to rent a movie at home with some comfy blankets, cute stuffed animals and a table for your favorite snacks. Relax in your PJs and order your favorite comfort meal with Door Dash or Uber Eats. If you don’t want to rent a movie, you could binge-watch a season of your favorite show.
5. Spend the Day Exploring a Downtown
Downtown cities are great because you can park in 1 place and walk to multiple places. I’ve spent birthdays in Ann Arbor and downtown Plymouth. You can start the day by grabbing a coffee at your favorite cafe, then look at some of your favorite shops and check out a few new ones. Buy yourself some new clothes, books, treats, candles, and decor. Then end the day by eating at your favorite restaurant or trying a new place.
6. Spend the Day with Your Dogs Outside
This is how I spent my 21st birthday. I’m not big on drinking, so I took my 2 dogs, Pepper and Graycloud, out to Mill Pond Park in Saline, Michigan with my mom. We got to go for a long walk, look at the water, and enjoy the sunshine and the car ride. This actually ended up being the last birthday that both my boys were here for, so it was really special. If you’re in Southeast Michigan, another great park to take your dogs is Heritage Park in Canton.
7. Create a Craft
Paint some pottery, work with dried flowers, make a candle, decorate with fake frosting and charms, etc. It feels great to create. If you’re interested in crafting, click here. Link to craft article
How Are You Going to Relax?
Are you going to get a massage, go shopping, or watch a movie? Or something else? Let me know in the comments below!
I hope you found a relaxing way to spend your birthday!
Love,
Selena
