Ten ways to be happy in the Empty Nest (There are actually many more)

Are there ten ways to be happy in the Empty Nest?

You betcha! There are fifty two to be exact. Maybe 53. Just kidding…there is an infinite number of ways to be happy in the Empty Nest and THRIVE!

Back in May, I wrote you a post letting you know that I had been thinking of you a great deal.The deadline of May 1^st had passed and your grown up high school senior has now made the final decision where they are going to attend college. The new college may be close by, it could be an unimaginable distance or somewhere in between.

How are you feeling now?

School begins soon and it is really hard to breathe, isn’t it? How are you sleeping? Not much, right?

You took your new freshman to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought those XL Twin sheets sets. How many towels should you buy? So many decisions and so much uncertainty! Do you really need a reading lamp? Do you need to ship it because she is going to school on the East Coast? Oh my gawd! She is really leaving! Do they have any more blue sheet sets? Those other colors are not very masculine, we need blue for my son. So many questions. It makes me cry just thinking about it. How about you?

So lets turn that frown upside down!

Here are ten (just to get you started) ways to be happy in the Empty Nest!

1. There is now time for YOU!

2. One of the very biggest things you need to work on is learning how to focus on yourself. It’s all about you and your spouse.

3. MAKE A LIST of everything that you love. Is it … cooking, reading, exercising, bowling, gardening, music or travel? – What makes YOU happy?

4. Take that list and put it where you can see it. Look at it every day and start to think of your own dreams.What are you passionate about? What will get you up in the morning and put a smile on your face?

5. Dream! Dream BIG! You were so busy with your child’s dreams you forgot about yours.

6. Plan a trip to visit your child. Just knowing that this trip is planned in the future will help you a great deal. Plan to visit Parents’ Weekend.

7. Have a cocktail. (For my non-drinkers… a deep breath and a beverage)

8. Know that your child will THRIVE in college. You have given them all of the tools they need. They can do this and they need to do it without you. THEY CAN DO THIS. DONT WORRY.

9. Pick up this new book called Thrive by Arianna Huffington.  It is an inspirational book to help you “remake the world in your own image, according to your own definition of success” ~  

10. Reach out to friends and family if that smile starts turning the other way. Look for a support system. Get a group of Moms (and Dads too) together and fill small boxes with goodies for the new college freshman and mail it to them.

Becoming a successful Empty Nester is a work in progress. It doesn’t happen overnight. But I promise you that you will smile and be happy, eventually. Now if you start with these first “Ten ways to be happy in the Empty Nest”, it will hopefully give you a head start.

Your friend,

Suzanne