How to Fill That Empty Nest
/You’ve cared for your children since they were born. They were the first thing you thought of when you woke up in the morning and the last thing you thought of when closing your eyes at night. They filled your life with their laughter and tears, messes and triumphs. They filled your heart and your home. And though they will never leave your heart, they will eventually leave your home.
This time is a huge transition, even if you’ve been looking forward to the day when you would no longer have to pick up their dirty socks or tell them to turn down the volume on their music. It’s still a loss, and it can take some time to get your head around how to fill that empty place they’ve left in your home. Fortunately, there are things you can do to ease the transition. Here, SoHA Arts Building explains a few of these steps.
Take Some Time to Relax
Not only are you ready for a break from 24/7 parenting, you need a break from the exhaustion of adjusting to your life-changing status. You’ve probably been busy helping your child move away to college, into a marriage, or a place of their own because they’ve gotten a job where they can finally afford their own home.
Use this time for self-care, whether it’s catching up on your reading or taking walks in the park, take time for some self-care.
Travel Wherever You Please
This may be the first time in a long time you’ve been able to think about traveling without having to worry about the young person still at home. Being in a new city lets you feel like an independent person again. Nothing is pulling you to your old life since everything is new, even you, if you let yourself.
And travel is good for your health, too. Not just your physical health with all the extra walking you’re doing, but travel reduces stress, lowers anxiety, and improves your mood.
Pursue or Rediscover a Hobby
There is almost certainly something you’ve said you would like to do if only you had the time. Well, now you do. Take that thing and go for it. Piano lessons? Painting? Restoring old tables? Baking wedding cakes? Whatever it is, this is the best time to begin.
Need lessons? Even if you live far from a major town, you can find lessons or tutorials online on almost any topic. Some will be free on YouTube, and others are paid subscriptions, like Curiosity Stream or Skill Share, but even the paid subscriptions are reasonably priced.
Perhaps you have never put down your hobby, but you now have more time to commit to it. That is an exciting opportunity that is worth exploring. You may want to dedicate part of your home or garage to this passion project, or you could look into renting a space in the SoHA Arts Building. Whether you’re looking for a loft to paint or take photography in or a commissary kitchen to pursue your culinary arts, there is a space for you here!
Start Your Own Business
You may have always dreamed of starting your own business but never thought the time was right. Now that you have one or two fewer people to look after, this can be a perfect time.
If you’re not sure where to begin, start with a business plan. This can be your blueprint for all the parts of a business that need to be addressed, including your goals, how you’ll obtain funding, your marketing strategies, and who your target market is.
A lot of pieces go into putting together a business plan, and the best way to keep them all in one easy-to-access place is in a PDF file. You’ll be making changes as you go, so use a PDF editing tool to revise and even get feedback from others. Click here for more info about how to use built-in tools, like highlighters, pens, text tools, and sticky notes, to give and receive feedback on drafts.
Then structure your business as an LLC to protect your personal assets since that kind of structure creates a wall between the business’s finances and those of the owner or owners. It also has favorable tax benefits and requires less paperwork. You can create an LLC yourself without needing an attorney. Just check the rules where you are since they vary from state to state.
Move to a New Place
If you’re ready to live in a community of people who are nearer your age and share your interests, you may wish to move to a senior living community. Many people feel like this transition means they are giving up their freedom, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Many of these communities allow you to enjoy life and friendships without having to manage the upkeep of a house and property, too. Look into your options to see if this is the right option for you.
Find Your New Normal
Initially, you may feel lost or unsure of your new life status, but if you look at this time as merely the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. With time to travel, pursue hobbies, and even start your own business, you can begin to see the possibilities of what this next phase of your life can offer.