I took a solo trip for my birthday instead of celebrating with friends. It helped me rethink my mid-30s.

Sinead Mulhern decided to spend her birthday traveling solo in Ecuador.

Provided by Sinead Mulhern

Earlier this year, I took a solo birthday trip for the first time, and I turned 35 on top of a mountain looking at views of Peru in the distance. Though it felt a little counterintuitive, I now recommend a birthday trip alone — not every year, but at least once. My year had felt very start-and-stop. By April, my birthday was around the corner, and there was no arguing that somehow, to my surprise, I was now undeniably in my mid-30s. I both wanted to pause to celebrate the life I've built — the one where I get to live and work from Ecuador — while also taking stock of what may lie ahead. My mind had been a busy place, buzzing with what-ifs, shoulds, and mentally preoccupied with the landscape of 2026, which feels shaky at best. I'm not much of a planner, and with enough on my mind already, I decided to skip party planning, sit-down dinners I don't typically enjoy, or a logistically-heavy getaway with friends.

She spent her solo trip getting a massage, eating delicious food, and hiking up a mountain.

Provided by Sinead Mulhern