At some point in your life, you will bid your kids adieu from inside that car before they step into a college or University. And suddenly, your home will be all quiet, desolate and empty. In a blink, you will be left alone in your own house. The same home, which once bustled with noise, will turn into an empty nest – echoing your own loneliness. But staying happing in an empty nest is not a far-fetched idea. In fact, if you just look at the right things in the right direction, you will realize that living life as an empty nester is actually quite an adventurous and exciting task. Here are 7 ways of staying happy and healthy in an empty nest.
Monitor your health
While you took care of your children at home, you neglected your health. This is one of the most common scenarios in any functioning family. But now, they are free birds. And so are you. Now you do not have the responsibility of caring for the kids, looking after their health. So, you must look after yours now.
One of the best ways of staying happy in an empty nest is to monitor and improve your health. So far, you put your health and well-being at the backburner. But no more.
Get your regular check up done. Go for the blood tests. Seek treatment for any health condition you are already suffering from.
Get a membership to a health club. Catch up on some daily exercise routine. Join a yoga class. All those fitness activities you wanted to pursue (but couldn’t) are knocking at your doorstep.
You can now focus on bringing healthier food products on the other side of the door. It is time, in an empty nest, to focus on yourself and your health.
Pack your bags
… and take off for that vacation you always dreamt of. With children around, chances are that you had to budget your annual trips. But now that your kids are off to college and you no longer have to pay for them (at least, as much as you used to), it is time to pack your bags and book that destination you always loved.
There is really no age limit for travel. You only need to point at some place on the map, plan your budget, prepare the itenary, and take off. And if all of this sounds complex or difficult, you can always contact your local travel agency or plan your trip online.
Pick up that hobby
As a teenager, you might have been in love with that guitar. Or, you might have gazed adoringly at that blank canvas. Maybe, you still have that first draft of the novel you longed to finish. But, you were so busy with your family and kids that these hobbies had to remain closeted for a long, long time.
Now is the time to dust off that musical instrument, that manuscript, and that canvas. Pick your hobby and get started. Join hobby classes if you wish. You might also meet like-minded people and interact with them.
Staying happy in an empty nest is easy if you have a hobby to work on and fine-tune. Speaking of hobbies…
Turn your hobby into a business
If you have mastered the art of writing a novel, why not self-publish it? If you have the skill to bring colors to life, why not sell your best work at a painting exhibition? If you can really strum the strings on that guitar, why not play at local events?
As an empty nester, you have plenty of free time on your hands. Utilize that time to learn, create and share something beautiful and productive. Not only will you be able to spend all that free time doing something creative, but also earn some side money and add it to your retirement fund.
Renovate your house
Chances are, you had to miss out on the interior décor of your choice because you always put your childrens’ wishes before yours. But now that they are older and away from home, you can go ahead and redecorate their rooms (and yours too).
Maybe you don’t want to go all out by changing the entire look of your house. But, if you are really wishing for a breath of fresh air, rearranging the furniture or changing the carpet, sofa covers or curtains isn’t a terrible idea.
Let your home reflect your style and personality. The space is finally yours. Do with it as you wish. Staying happy in an empty nest becomes an interesting task if that empty nest is attractive enough to sleep in.
Rekindle your love
More often than not, raising children means putting your love life at the backburner. You cannot go out on dates with your spouse as often. You cannot spend some quality time with each other. And even when the two of you are alone, your kids are the concern at the back of your mind.
But now that your kids are off to college and you are left in an empty nest, try to rekindle your love life a bit. Spend quality time with your spouse. Reminiscence on the sweet memories of the early marriage years.
Rediscover what made you fall head over heels for each other. Try to remember why you dearly love the person sitting next to you. Love has no age limits. You can always ignite the spark between the two of you.
Get a pet
This is one of the easiest ways of staying happy in an empty nest. Once you get a pet – be it a dog, a cat, or a bird – you will not feel like you are in an empty nest anymore.
All that hustle bustle will be back. You will once again be surrounded by the clamor of noises. Moreover, you will feel that your empty nest is no more empty – all thanks to the furry animals in your life.
Your pets will cheer you up when you are down in the dumps. They have the magical ability to make you smile just by being around you.
