How will you spend your free time when your kids go off to school ? That’s what I wrote about in Part 1 of Empty Nest Syndrome: What Will You Do When Your Child Leaves Home ? As you read the article, you saw where I shared thoughts and moments of unrest from parents who had simular experiences.
The ideas below will give you some things to consider as you make the transition, and adjust to the changes of being alone.
Whatever you choose to do, take tiny steps each day. This makes moving forward toward your goals more achievable.
Volunteer your services: There are many residents in nursing homes, senior centers and simular facilities who would welcome your visit. They would be ecstatic to have someone invest their time and energy to make them feel special and alive again. This could be a win-win situation for all persons involved. The residents would be happy to get the individual attention, and have something to look forward to on a regular basis. The staff would be happy to get an unscheduled break while you are there. You could also be happy because of your commitment to sow your services into someone’s life ,and add a new activity to your to-do-list.
Collect recipes: If you enjoy cooking and creating delectible meals, this maybe an idea for you. Magazines, newspapers, old cookbooks and the internet are great sources for recipes. As you try out your new dishes, use family members as your testers and ask them for feedback. They’ll love you for sharing your goodies with them.
Take a class: Community colleges are great places to start your search. The adult education department usually offers classes with flexible hours and affordable prices. Can you amagine taking a college class without focusing on getting a passing grade? After all, you will be taking the class for the love of your craft, or just to do it for fun. This will eleminate a lot of pressure and undo stress. The local library and some churches also offer classes, workshops and seminars for your personal growth and learning pleasures.
Start a home project: Remodeling a room or simply rearranging the furniture can be a fun thing to do. Search through home beautification magazines and brouse the isles of home stores for remodeling ideas and color samples. There are many upgrades that can be made within your home, with little to no cost to you.
Plant a flower garden: Colorful flowers can add instant beauty to you living space, whether it’s your balcony, yard, patio or your room. Nuturing your plants and watching them sprout and grow can be a learning and relaxing experience.
As you go about planning your daily and weekly activities, consider scheduling something for yourself on Wednesdays, commanly known as Hump Day. The idea here is to get involved with other people when things are usually slow during the week. This can serve as your motivation for your week, getting you over the hump, and start your count-down to Friday.
What do you do to occupy your time? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below. I would love to hear from you.
To learn more about how you can make a smooth transition from where you are to where you want to be, contact me for a free strategy session at:
ruby@rubyfreeman.com
To your Success,
Ruby Freeman
Wishing you much success,
Ruby Freeman, Academic Coach / Founder of HelpingKidsLearn.org / Ruby@HelpingKidsLearn.org
