Birthdays can be a hit-or-miss for many people: you can see this day as a day of happiness or a day of dread of being another year older. Either way, have fun with this day that’s all about you! Here are HFR’s top 10 healthy birthday activities, because you deserve it!
- Celebrate with your favorite exercise class: Turn your class into a party by having everyone dress up in crazy costumes to make the exercise more fun and exciting! Having a theme like an 80’s dress up party with everyone wearing legwarmers and sweatbands in spinning class will put everyone in a good mood.
- Go on a run (or bike ride) for how old you’re turning: If you’re turning 26 or under, this would be a fun and blood-pumping activity to challenge yourself with! Celebrate not only your birthday but a fitness goal you’ve been trying to reach. Even if you’re older than 26, don’t limit yourself! Hike, bike, or walk your age, you’re going to feel great afterwards!
- Write down everything you’ve been thankful for since your last birthday: Start off this new age with a positive attitude. Take time to sit down and write down everything you’re thankful for, and write down all of the things you achieved since your last birthday. Not only will you feel more positive with this fresh start, but you can improve your overall mental health.
- Indulge in mini-cupcakes as a birthday treat: You deserve dessert on your birthday, but you don’t necessarily want to run a mile just to burn off that piece of double chocolate cake. Instead, opt for some “mini-cupcakes”, which only have about 50-80 calories per cake, instead of a whole piece of cake which averages about 545 calories.
- “Treat Yo Self”: You know the famous catchphrase from Tom on Parks and Recreation; once a year you need to treat yourself! Why not have that day be your birthday? Studies show that indulging in yourself can bring many mental health benefits, like rejuvenating yourself, reducing stress, and boosting your mood. Remember that you’ve earned a day to do what makes you happy!
- Meditate: Meditating will not only bring you peace but give you the energy to get through your big day. Don’t try and reach for a sugar-filled energy drink, meditate for 10 minutes! Research shows that meditation will give you natural energy, and will help you stay awake and alert for the rest of the day.
- Have a healthy smoothie: Want a treat of ice cream but don’t want to completely ruin your diet? Mix up some greek yogurt with some frozen strawberries and bananas in a blender and create your own one of a kind ice cream smoothie!
- Go on a scavenger hunt: You don’t want to just sit around and do nothing for your birthday, right? Get up and go on a scavenger hunt! Have a friend plot points on a map for you to find the hidden treasures, and tell them they all have to be within walking distance: no driving allowed!
- Have a potluck dinner: No one wants to spend their birthday cooking all day, so make everyone else do the work! Use this day as an excuse to get together with friends and family and eat yummy and healthy foods, like chocolate-covered strawberries dipped in sprinkles!
- Do an outdoor activity: There are so many seasonal outdoor activities to do no matter what time of the year it is. Are you a fall baby? Go for a hike, or go explore a farmer’s market and pick out some new fruits and veggies for dinner. A winter baby? Go ice skating, or go walk around the neighborhood and look at everyone’s Christmas lights.
