Entering the empty nest phase of life can be heart-wrenching, liberating or a little bit of both. You can spend the next 20 years in a routine of working and watching T.V. Or, you can choose to make the best of your empty nest!
The best way to do this is to start BEFORE the nest is empty. Think about ways you and your spouse can life purposely and with great joy and adventure once the kiddos are dropped off at their college dorm. Preparing in advance is the best way to make certain the shock isn’t so shocking.
If the time came and went for you and you’ve setting into an unsatisfying routine, it’s not too late to change! You can start making the best of your empty nest TODAY. And then tomorrow and the next day. Think of all the things you can do, now that your life isn’t consumed by micromanaging your children’s lives! New habits and behaviors can spice up your relationship and your life, one day at a time.
10 Ways to Make the Best of Your Empty Nest
Plan and Dream Together
Now is the time for YOU! Daydream with your spouse. Determine your priorities. Create a bucket list and talk about how you’ll accomplish everything you want to do in mid-life.
Travel
Travel can mean anything from finding a cute, romantic bed and breakfast 30 minutes away to flying across the ocean to visit a country you’ve always dreamed of. It can mean a spa weekend or a mission trip to Africa. It can be a 5-star resort or camping in a tent. Or do all of those things! There are ways you can travel with any budget. The point is, get away. Relax. Explore and be adventurous!
Date Your Spouse All Over Again
Think back to the things you loved to do together in the days before you had kids. It’s easy to get out of a date-night routine when you are in the middle of raising of toddlers through teenagers. But dating is so important! Rediscover the person you fell in love with years ago.
Pursue a New Hobby
Whether it’s gardening, golf or gourmet cooking, enjoy your new free time doing the things that feel rewarding to you. You deserve it!
Reinvest in Friendships
Most couples I know have a hard time spending time with friends in between soccer practice, homework and college hunting. Now you have the time reinvest in and rekindle relationships with friends you enjoy. Have a dinner party. Go to a concert in the park. Get away together. Deep friendships bring so much joy to the soul!
Get Heathy Together
Now you’ve got no excuse for lack of exercise and bad eating habits. Why not set some goals with your partner and get in the best shape you can? Cooking healthy meals is really no more time-consuming than cooking unhealthy meals. Find an exercise you enjoy together, whether it be walking, hiking or kayaking, and get out together to do it. This is the perfect way to set yourselves up for a long, healthy life to enjoy all those grandkids you’ll be getting one day!
Feather the Nest
Decorate your new spare room! You could make it a craft room, a workout room, or a cozy den. Look around the house and contemplate other simple and inexpensive DIY projects that could spruce up your living space. Make your home your haven!
Take a Class
Have you always wanted to learn how to paint, shoot photography or decorate cupcakes? These dreams no longer need to be pushed into the future. Check out classes at your local community college or craft store. You can even look into taking online courses.
Volunteer
You’ve been so accustomed to focusing your attention on giving and helping others for the last 18+ years that you may be feeling a little lost without someone to serve. There are so many people you could bless and impact through your serving. Whether it’s your church, a museum or a charitable organization, there’s a spot waiting just for you!
Do Something Fun or Meaningful Every Day
This might mean enjoying a candlelit dinner on the patio or simply praying together before bedtime. The point is to live purposefully. There are little ways you can add meaning to each and every day. Tuck a note in your spouse’s lunch bag. Go on a bike ride together. Work on that bucket list. Make dessert and watch the sunset. It’s the little things that bring purpose, satisfaction and joy. This is a sure-fire way to avoid getting into a boring routine day in and day out.
To get more ideas and perspectives, check out one of these excellent books:
Feathers From My Nest by renowned bible study teacher and speaker Beth Moore
Barbara & Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest by Barbara Rainey and Susan Yates
You can also get inspiration about the empty nest from my post here, learn how to transition to the empty nest here, and prepare for your son’s first visit home here!
Tom and I are off on another day-long, empty nest adventure this weekend. We are taking our boat to San Diego for one more fun day on the water before it gets too cold! What’s your favorite thing to do now that the nest is empty?
xoxo,
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This is so helpful. Just what I needed to read. Thanks so much!
You are so welcome, Lina!
The 10 ways to make the best of the empty nest would work for being newly retired…Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop
These are some great suggestions. I am working on starting to enjoy my life. I am divorced and my son and two grandchildren live with me. I am helping him raise my grandchildren. I feel like I never have time for myself and that needs to change soon. Thank you so much for sharing
You gotta take care of YOU to be able to bless THEM! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for this list. My oldest is headed off to college and my youngest is going to community college. Loosing my oldest to a 4 HR drive is killing me, but this list helped me put things into perspective and gives me hope.