I had a very, very sad day in the kitchen a while back. I cracked my crock! Yes, I turned my crock pot over to wash it and low and behold I had a crack along the bottom where I could see that even some of the juices had seeped out. My soup was less soupy and didn’t cook correctly. I didn’t know it by looking at it from the outside. But, when it did it’s final “crack” I knew it was time for a new one.

Is your personal energy drained?

Is your life “pot” cracked right now and you are feeling drained?

One of the things you may notice in your empty nest (or soon to be empty nest) is that you realize you are still drained of your energy. The house is empty. The kids are gone. It’s just you and the hubs at the house. So, why are you still completely zapped of energy.

First, let’s ask the question what makes you feel energized?
OK.
I know.
You probably haven’t thought very much about yourself the past few years if you are caught in the trap many moms get in.

Now is the time you get to ask yourself some questions. Don’t worry. There aren’t any right or wrong answers. Just some good insight into yourself.

Defining Your Personal Energy

First, ask yourself some questions about what FILLS you up!

1. What leaves me feeling personally energized?
2. What’s fun to me?
3. What do I do that leaves me feeling confident?
4. What do I do that leaves me feeling good about myself?
5. What feels fulfilling to me?
6. What leaves me feeling joyful?
7. What leaves me feeling more grounded?

Next, ask yourself these questions about what leaves you feeling EMPTY.

1. What leaves me feeling drained or empty?
2. What zaps my energy?
3. What saps my confidence?
4. What is boring?
5. What leaves me feeling sad/angry/irritated/etc.?
6. What leaves me feeling incompetent?
7. What leaves me feeling ungrounded and frayed?

These thought provoking questions can help direct you in what energizes you and what drains you.

As you navigate through the transition of the “empty nest” years, some moms find that much of the energy and fulfillment came from your kids. When the kids are gone, you sort of feel empty handed and you may find yourself saying, crying, yelling or praying “OK. What NOW?”

It may take you  a little while to “get in the groove” once the nest empties.

The key may be that you will need to shift what gives you energy FULLS.

Letting go of the energy drains leaves you with lots more time to think about yourself.

And guess what Mom? You DESERVE to get to think about yourself now. You raised those little chicks and they are off on their own. You did GREAT! Give yourself the self-love and think about YOU =)

Hugs and feathers from the nest~~()~~

Kim Steadman is the Content Curator and COOP (Chief Online Operating Person) for The Re-Feathered Nest, a place of encouragement for moms entering the Empty Nest Zone who are ready to RePurpose and ReDesign themselves according to God’s purpose for their lives now that the kids have flown the coop. She is the author of the soon to be released book ““My Little Book of Empty Nest Quotes & Wisdom.’ Kim can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheRefeatheredNest and on Google+ at +Kim