Here’s the top 10 tips for empty nest moms to not only survive the empty nest years, but surTHRIVE in them!

Top 10 Tips for Empty Nest Moms

1. Prepare – Plan ahead of time, and be prepared for the totally unexpected! You may experience sheer delight realizing the kids are REALLY gone. You may cry your eyes out. Remember, more than likely your hormones are going to be going haywire, which may make your reacting a little “more” than you expected. Whichever way the pendulum sways, be OK with it and welcome it. If you don’t have a BFF to talk to at least write them down in a journal.

2. Don’t be a mope-head. You may be tempted to sit inside and wallow in your sad moment. Don’t. Just DON’T. Get outside. Start a project. Do a day trip somewhere. Get OUT.

3. Think of something new you’ve always wanted to do that you didn’t have time to do before and do IT. Do a closet makeover and get rid of some clothes. Do a cabinet makeover and get rid of old dishes (Yes, you can keep one memento of the dishes your kids had. But just ONE)

4. Let It Go! – I just happen to love the song from the hit movie, but I was singing the song before it became a hit movie. The lyrics were a little different. Don’t be afraid to let your kids go. Helping them to become functioning adults NOW is much better than trying to get them that way when they are 35.

5. Focus On Yourself – Give yourself permission because now IS the time to talk about YOU! As moms, we’re always in the habit of talking about our kids and their lives. Now is the time to move the focus and talk about yourself more often.

6. Make New Friends – Depending on when your kids leave home and who your circle of friends currently are, your friends may not be empty nesters yet. You may need to seek out other friends to find some folks that can relate to the new you!

7. Laugh, Laugh and Laugh some more! – There are so many benefits to laughing that science and psychology have proven. The ultimate BOOK also says that a merry and cheerful heart is good like medicine! “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Proverbs 17:22

8. Heal Yourself – Emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. All facets of YOU are intertwined within each other. If you’ve ever seen those Native Indian dream catchers, the thread work is exactly how we are woven. Balanced. Have one facet off balance and it will effect your other facets. One of the transitions of the empty nest is having more time on your hands. Using that time wisely and to your benefit is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Try doing one thing each day that improves your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual self.

9. Get Creative – Make an Empty Nest bucket list. Travel to grown up destinations. Travel to cute little day trips. Visit museums, galleries and book stores. Take a cooking or art class. Train for a sport. Try things you didn’t have time to do before.

10. Put a spark in the Passion for your husband. – Renew and Rekindle the passion for your husband, your marriage and yourself. Consider this your Second Honeymoon phase of life.
I asked Tammy if there’s one thing that an empty nest mom could do today, in the next few hours, what she would recommend. She immediately responded.

If there was one hint that I could give empty nest moms it would be to pack up the kids stuff in the rooms and convert that room into something. Maybe you could make it into a craft room, or a cutely decorated guest room. We had to live that piece of advice less than a year after our son left for college. The half of the house that our master bedroom was in had to have major subflooring repair work done. We had to completely empty everything out of our bedroom and gut that section. In our little 2 bedroom cottage that meant we had to move into our son’s room. We packed up all his stuff and moved everything out. We ended up liking the quietness of his room and never left and it was probably the best “empty nest” tactic we did!

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. Kim can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheRefeatheredNest and on Google+ at +Kim