When we were children, our birthdays were anticipated all year long. The day was surrounded by dizzying excitement as we waited for it to finally arrive, occupying our time wondering what presents we may have wrapped up and trying to find where our parents had hidden them about the house. We wondered what it would be like to be another year older, and how many of our friends would come along to celebrate. However, when we are all grown up, we have the tendency to ignore our birthdays. 

Suddenly, becoming another year older is met with dread instead of joy, and a lot of us may even skip the celebrations altogether. What we need to do is recapture the magic of birthdays and once again be excited about the yearly milestone.

This guide will give you some winning ideas to put the fun back into your birthday no matter what age it is you are celebrating. Everyone deserves to have fun, and that includes you making the most of your special day.

The first thing to think about on your birthday is, of course, you. In a fast-paced world it can be difficult to take a few hours to focus solely upon yourself completely, but if there is any day of the year to have some you time, it has got to be your birthday. A fantastic way to do this is to find simple ways to pamper yourself. Taking time for yourself doesn't have to be expensive or overly labored. By simply taking an hour to have a nice soak in the bath with some candles or putting aside some time to snuggle up in bed and finally read that book you've bought for yourself ages ago can be a great way to begin enjoying your birthday again.

Another thing to remember when thinking about your birthday is to make sure that those few hours are not just for you, but that the whole day is geared to what you want. You mustn't get stressed thinking about what every single one of your friends might want to do but choose to create your birthday centered around your own likes and interests. There's nothing wrong with being a little selfish on your special day.

Every great party starts at home. The excitement of getting ready and seeing all your friends is a lovely feeling, so before you go out for your celebrations, you will want to get all your loved ones together to get in the party mood. Therefore, when planning to get all your friends around to your house, why not go all out and decorate your home? Think streamers, balloons and lights. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top or expensive, just enough to create an atmosphere. There are loads of online party theme ideas that are easy to create that will make your home look beautiful. By putting in a little bit of effort to set the scene for your birthday, you will be able to start your night off right!

At any celebration, most of us will like to treat ourselves to a fancy glass of something fizzy, be it alcoholic or not. One idea to try out for your next birthday is it make your own cocktails at home. Not only will this be cheaper than going to bar, but by not have the pounding music so that you can't hear your friends you can easily speak to your loved ones with minimal interruption. It is easy to find all your favorite cocktail recipes on your laptop or phone. Making your own drinks is a great way to get people together and socialize without even having left your house for the main event yet.

Remember that because you're making these drinks at home, you can adapt them to your own tastes or turn them into mock-tails if you're not a drinker.

A staple of the birthday parties in our childhood was the infamous party bag. Filled with sweets and cheap little toys, it was one of the highlights of the day, but why does this little tradition need to stop in adulthood? Perhaps consider making your own party bags with some adult party favors

or, just like the cocktails, have fun with your friends designing your own bracelets or bath bombs. This idea is suited for the early evening once everyone has arrived and got a drink because it gets all your friends to socialize with one another, as everyone gets to unleash their creativity. 

When you’re an adult, the idea of a birthday party might seem like something you've outgrown. Renting a local hall and putting shop brought buffet food on paper plates and playing musical chairs just won't cut it. We need to redefine the birthday party for adults, and this new definition should be that birthdays are a chance to try something new and out of the ordinary. A great idea is to try Escape Games, laser tag or even a short weekend away. Your friends can enjoy activities such as these and make a fantastic and fun addition to your evening out, so you avoid the temptation to do something predictable. By choosing to do an activity that is out of the ordinary will inject your birthday with that sense of magic it once had when you were younger.

Every birthday is a milestone and, no matter what age we are turning, we should always celebrate and have a great, unforgettable time. The main idea behind celebrating as an adult is to create a day built around what you want, be it a small gathering or a big night. Whatever you decide, enjoy yourself and relax, knowing that you have many friends and family to celebrate with; if you really don’t want to go out, then ensure that you settle in for the night with your significant other or closest friends. Whatever you want to do, do it. Be happy.