If you’re about to turn 50 and the ways to celebrate this HUGE milestone that you’ve found so far are…well…cringe-worthy, take heart. There are many meaningful 50th birthday ideas that are not in the “Isn’t it Nifty, Look who’s 50!” corny get-together category.
Stop cringing and start planning with these 12 unique and truly meaningful 50th birthday ideas:
Table of Contents
Introduction
If you’re suddenly running out of energy, it’s probably fatigue from combing through endless lists of “top” 50th birthday ideas only to experience mind-numbing boredom.
Don’t feel bad. Everyone trusts Google a little too much sometimes. Fortunately, if you’re wondering how to celebrate a 50th birthday outside the box, unique ideas are available.
Making your birthday meaningful doesn’t really involve deep research. It involves customizing your celebration to your unique life, right down to this year’s mood.
Why Birthdays Lose Their Excitement
It’s no secret that birthdays seem more exciting when you’re young.
As time went on, however, we’ve all probably had some during which our internal dialogue was screaming “Another birthday! Do I really have to smile and pretend I’m excited? Well, yes, or I’ll hurt everyone’s feelings.” It’s particularly true if someone plans a not-really-a-surprise surprise party that you secretly didn’t want.
Don’t feel guilty if this describes you: but also don’t assume it’s your age that’s affecting you negatively. That would be an easy mistake, but it’s probably just the tedious thought of yet another same-old party on the horizon.
After all, how much variety is truly possible in the realm of dinner, shopping trips, birthday cake, music and gifts? Or worse yet, trying to fine-tune your ideas by combing through lists of what constitutes an “appropriate” or “suitable” or “meaningful” 50th birthday idea.
50th Birthday Ideas Are Not One Size Fits All
Reject the idea that any particular experience or activity is the “perfect” 50th birthday idea. Pass over all the monotonous suggestions and find something exceptional through a bit of soul-searching.
Don’t worry. I mean soul-searching “lite”.
Finding the exact, universally undisputed definition of the meaning of life is unnecessary.
Instead, when constructing your 50th birthday idea checklist, identify a handful of things that have added meaning to the 50 years you’re celebrating. People, places, activities, and milestones all belong on the list.
Here are some 50th birthday ideas to consider:
50th Birthday Ideas Centered on “Me Time”
According to Psychology Today contributor, Doctor Suzanne Degges-White, “Me Time” is a precious commodity that can even increase the health of your relationships with others.
Well, there’s no rule that says you can’t gift this to yourself on your big 5-0 this year. Here are a few of my favorite ideas in the “me time” category:
Rent a Secret Hideaway
Consider renting a cabin in the woods or a seaside condo for a weekend and enjoy activities like reading, writing, journaling, and thinking about the 50 years you’ve lived– and the 50 ahead.
This is what I did for my own 50th birthday and it was glorious. I didn’t even tell anyone where I was going.
It completely freaked out my teenagers because it was so out of character for me…which just made it even more fun. (I enjoy messing with them as payback once in a while.)
You may not think you want to try traveling alone, but, in the spirit of crushing our comfort zones in the second half of life…I’d argue that this is all the more reason to go.
Today’s discomfort becomes tomorrow’s baseline: Something you can cross off your “I don’t think I can do that” list.
Design Your Own Memory Pictorial
You know how you’ve been taking pictures for “future you” all these years?
Well…future you is now just “you” – so dig out your old albums, add your phone galleries, place them in order, and savor each one slowly.
If you choose this 50th birthday idea, you’ll undoubtedly remember things that you haven’t thought of in years and may even come across someone’s picture and decide it’s time to reconnect.
You may also end up wondering why you stopped engaging in a particular activity or hobby. This simple birthday idea might even help get you out of a midlife rut.
Schedule Your Own Favorites Afternoon
Celebrate five decades on earth by scheduling a “favorites afternoon” on a day when you have the house to yourself.
Read the first novel you fell in love with, watch a movie or play music that you found incredibly inspiring years ago.
Consider engaging in a hobby that you haven’t bothered with in decades. Who knows? Sparks may fly again between you and that sketchpad or coin collection.
Make a Bucket List
Creating a bucket list is suprisingly fun when it’s done in solitude. There’s just one rule for this activity: everything goes on the list. Yes, everything.
Don’t allow yourself to say, “That’s too outlandish,” or “I’d never be able to do that.” You never know unless you challenge yourself. Okay, maybe trekking to Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark remnants is somewhat unrealistic, but your list can be edited later. When creating it, anything goes.
Check out my articles on summer bucket list ideas and fall bucket list ideas for inspiration.
50th Birthday Ideas That Include Your Inner Circle
If your friends and other loved ones rank even higher than “me time,” on your list of essentials for your 50th birthday celebration, here are some meaningful ways to include these folks in your milestone day.
Mining for Memories
The goal of this 50th birthday idea is to have the friends and family share (whether at a gathering or the more “low key” way of your choosing) their fondest memories of you.
This is an especially good option if you don’t want 50th birthday presents…or don’t want others to worry about what to do or get for you for this huge birthday. The memory, in this case, is the gift.
(Note. This will almost definitely not turn out the way you think it will. Virtually every person will surprise you with what they recall about you and your life, and it’s an incredibly enriching experience.)
50th Birthday Hometown Tour
Choose a special friend or relative and actively reminisce by visiting the town you grew up in – and even your childhood home. If you still live in the same area, you can enrichen this experience by exploring places you haven’t visited in a while, such as your elementary school or hike to that cabin in the woods where you used to hang out with friends.
Take this up a notch by looking up and reaching out to friends or acquaintances from decades past with whom you’ve lost touch. Invite them along.
You can even create a 50th birthday scrapbook based on your journey.
50th Birthday Ideas That Give Back
Invite close friends and relatives to a “no-gift” 50th birthday celebration. Surprise them by being the giver instead of the recipient.
Make homemade gifts and include cards with notes expressing what you appreciate most about each person. Believe me, they’ll find these simple little gifts to be unforgettable.
Or, create fun personalized coupons. For instance, for that relative who always lets you cry on her shoulder, give a certificate that says, “Good for one free hot fudge sundae and venting session.”
Another gift idea is to pledge to be the first customer for a friend who’s planning to launch a “passion” business in the second half of her own life.
Just remember, these aren’t “campaign promises.” If you try this special 50th birthday idea, only make realistic promises you can deliver on.
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50th Birthday Day Out Ideas
If you’re searching for 50th birthday day out ideas, you can begin to narrow things down by examining how you’re feeling at this stage of your life. Are you wishing you were a bit more sophisticated? Are you feeling nostalgic? Do you want to challenge yourself to do something you’ve been putting off for, say…40 years or so?
Try these 50th birthday day out ideas:
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
If midlife has you feeling dowdy or uninteresting, wake up your dormant sophisticated side with a 50th birthday outing to an art gallery or museum. You may surprise yourself to find that this outing grows into a whole new hobby or interest.
Reminisce in Real Time
If you’re nostalgic after half a century on this earth, relive a happy day in your childhood. This doesn’t have to be extravagant or even involve travel. Consider a trip to an amusement park, take in a circus, or even just head to the movie theater for the latest Disney flick, complete with heavily buttered popcorn and candy you’ve snuck in from the 7-11.
Plant a Garden
Have you spent decades saying, “One of these days I’m going to plant a garden”? Well, we all know tomorrow never comes. Today is your day!
If you have outdoor-loving friends and relatives, turn this idea into a social event. Ask for project participation in lieu of traditional 50th birthday presents.
Think outside the box, though. If your climate’s appropriate, consider exotic flowers. If you’ve always wanted to grow and use your own herbs, dig in– literally. Get creative and challenge yourself. You’ll never regret it.
A Furry 50th Birthday Idea
Consider gifting yourself with a furry friend this year. (You know you want to.) Fifty is the perfect age to indulge your animal-loving side, since there’s probably less activity in your home when compared to the years you spent raising kids or launching a career. (Plus! What are we supposed to take all the pictures of now that the kids are gone?)
Also consider a not-so-furry friend, such as a scaly or creepy one. If you’ve always secretly wanted a turtle, an iguana, or even a tarantula, do it! You’re fifty. They can’t tell you what to do anymore, so go pick up that boa constrictor and explore new horizons in nature.
Gift Yourself Midlife Reinvention
I saved this 50th birthday idea for last because it is my favorite.
To be honest, I’m kind of a midlife reinvention addict. I spend most of my free time thinking about ways to enrich my own life as well as the lives of my friends and clients.
As the author of this Midlife Reimagined Blog, I have written articles on popular midlife topics such as finding your personal core values, empty nesting, reinventing yourself, feeling stuck in a midlife rut and finding purpose.
In response to the increasing numbers of questions I’m receiving from blog readers, I created The Midlife Reimagined Mastermind.
Whether you’re feeling “stuck” or, like me, just always looking to optimize life…this Mastermind just might be the PERFECT 50th birthday gift to yourself.
I'm Dr. Angela Caveney. I'm a Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist, Founder of The Trybe Women's Social Club and leader of the Midlife Reimagined Mastermind.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mastermind or in creating a community of your own, reach out to me at angela@the-trybe.com to start the conversation.
