Study reveals we stop celebrating our birthday when we turn 31 – here’s why!
A poll conducted by thortful reveals that Brits tend to lose enthusiasm for birthday celebrations as they grow older, with the official age to stop celebrating being 31.
Brits tend to prioritise celebrating anniversaries, parenting milestones, travel adventures and career achievements over their own birthdays.
Psychologist Mairead Molly reveals how to take the pressure out of birthday planning as you get older.
From extravagant childhood parties with cake, games, and party bags to subdued gatherings with a few friends as adults, the way we celebrate our birthdays tends to evolve with age.
Did you know that 23% of Brits don’t celebrate their birthday every year? With this number increasing every year we get older1, you may wonder why we lose enthusiasm for birthdays with age.
According to a new study*, it has been revealed that we officially stop celebrating our birthday as much when we turn 31!
The study conducted by greetings card marketplace, thortful.com polled Brits on the ages at which our attitudes start to change around birthday parties. It seems that after years of cake and candles, birthdays tend to lose some of their sparkle once you hit the big 30.
The research uncovered several key factors that contribute to the diminishing excitement around birthdays as we grow older:
- Milestone Gaps – after turning 30, the next significant birthday milestone isn’t until the big 4-0, causing many to downplay birthdays in between.
- Financial Priorities – as adults, we often prioritise savings or holidays over extravagant birthday celebrations, as they come at a cost.
- Self-Indulgence – with age comes the ability to treat yourself, leaving little room for birthday wish lists.
- Time Constraints – balancing work, household responsibilities, and other commitments makes it challenging to plan and host elaborate birthday celebrations.
- Parental responsibilities – once parenthood enters the picture, priorities shift to ensure your kids have memorable birthdays, often leading parents to opt for low-key celebrations on their own special day.
- Personal choice – some simply choose not to celebrate their birthdays annually.
While birthdays lose their luster with age, the survey revealed that Brits love to celebrate anniversaries, parenting milestones, travel adventures and career milestones over their birthday.
How to make your birthday magical again once you turn 30
The experts at thortful reveal some tips on how you can recapture the excitement of birthdays as you get older:
- Try something new – Break the routine and indulge in unique experiences like a getaway, a gourmet dining adventure, or a spa day to make your day truly special.
- Birth-week celebrations – Why not extend the celebration over a week to enjoy multiple special activities, even if your birthday falls on a weekday.
- Childhood nostalgia – Recapture the magic of childhood birthdays by throwing a party to celebrate your big day. Get yourself a birthday cake, hire a karaoke machine, and don’t let the fun stop at 30!
Explaining why we stop celebrating our birthdays, psychologist Mairead Molloy, says “There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate birthdays. Some people keep the party going, while others prefer to cosy up to a quieter celebration. As we age, our birthday style changes, with most of us preferring a low-key no-fuss get-together.
In some cultures, certain birthdays are like superstar events, such as 18th or 21st, but as time goes by, the hoopla often takes a backseat. Adulting comes with responsibilities (work, family, life admin) which can make planning and paying for parties a bit of a challenge.
Plus, as we grow older, we might get reflective about the whole ageing thing. The fear of wrinkles and grey hair sometimes goes hand in hand with the fear of, well, the other side. Dealing with major life events can also affect how we feel about birthdays -it is certainly hard to celebrate when you’re feeling low. But remember, age is just a number, and we all have our own way of celebrating!”
A spokesperson at thortful comments on the study “At thortful we believe in celebrating life’s moments, big and small. And whilst ageing can be a whimsical journey, we all have our unique way of navigating it. We’re here to help people connect, share joy, and make every birthday special.”
To share the love your friends and family deserve for their birthday (no matter the age!), check out thortful’s birthday cards here: https://www.thortful.com/cards/birthday
1. Survey by https://yougov.co.uk/
*Survey of 1,500 adults conducted by TLF Research on behalf of thortful.
About thortful:
thortful is an online greetings card marketplace, providing a platform for independent creatives to sell their designs from all over the globe. thortful pay their creators an industry-leading royalty rate each time one of their card designs are sold, as well as handling all production and customer queries, providing a quick and easy service for both customers and sellers.
Featured Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
