Empty Nest: Enjoying the best years of your life, Part 1

Empty Nest Survival

As an empty-nest mom you really do have some of the best years in front of you. I won’t deny, there may be some challenging and sad days while adjusting to the empty nest. After all, this is a new phase of life, a transitional period so there are many emotions running in different directions.

BUT, now the kids are not at home and you are not needing to give them 24/7 attention. You have successfully prepared those little birds to launch into the adult world! Yea you! It’s time to celebrate with a joyful heart on a job well done.

During this series of posts I will share with you easy tips to make your new empty nest years truly the best years of your life!

Tip 1: Rekindle your marriage, Rekindle yourself

If you are married I’m betting that except for the occasional “date night” you and your husband may have drifted a part a little. Not in a bad way, just not a lot of together time. It’s ok to admit that! He works, you works, the kids were at home, everything you did was as a family. Now, you are probably going to notice you have a little more time on your hands. Some perfect time to put a little spark back into the marriage!

1. Some couples decide to pack up and move out of the house in order to downsize. Some couples ditch the house all together (Gotta love those Gypsy Nesters!)

Is it time to relocate? Time for a new job? Time to move to a new house in the same city? It’s definitely some conversation starter for you and hubby.

(My husband actually retired from the public service career and went into the private work sector. It was a change for both of us as he didn’t have shift work any longer! Cool beans!!)

2. Explore some activities together…try new restaurants, events, shows, museums..things you may not have had time to do together, alone, before.

3. Connect spiritually – do a devotional or Bible study together. Another idea may be to read the same book, your own little book club.

If you aren’t married, then you have lots of time to completely focus on YOU!

Redecorate a room, try new recipes, explore new hobbies, go back to some old hobbies you didn’t have time for, travel with friends (or make new friends by joining a travel club).

Practice the art of Gratitude daily, as this keeps you grounded and focused on others and not thinking about yourself so much.

Take time to pamper yourself..a weekend spa retreat, manicures, pedicures, a closet/wardrobe overhaul. The list could go on and on. Permit yourself to focus on yourself. You deserve it. =)

<2>Tip 2: Reconnect with God

I can’t express enough how important it is to have a strong relationship with our Creator. I have been in the ministry for years and absolutely do not see how folks are able to make it through big, life transitions without the helping hand of One greater.

Pray – there will be some days you will pray HARD. Just pour out your heart to Him and express yourself, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Listen to inspirational music – I truly believe that music is food for the soul.
Join a like minded group of women for a bible study or Christian book club. Connect with a group on Facebook.
Listen to His voice for direction and guidance

These are just a couple of tips. I’ll be sharing more throughout the week. Like me on Facebook so you will know when the next blog post is ready.

Please leave a comment if can think of an idea of how to rekindle the sparks!

Part 2 of this series is found here: Empty Nest: Enjoying the best years of your life, Part 2

Kim Steadman is the COOP (Chief Online Operating Person) for The Re-Feathered Nest – A place of encouragement for moms entering the Empty Nest Zone who find they need to Re-Purpose and Re-Design their lives now that the kids have flown the coop. Kim can be found on Twitter at @kimsteadman1 and on Google+ at +Kim.