My Well-Being

Once your children are out of the house for college or officially out on their own, you might find that you have some extra time on your hands! You don't have to fill your evenings driving from one extracurricular activity to the next and making sure everyone is where they need to be. You might finally have some "me" time. Some empty nesters find that filling that newly acquired time is overwhelming – it could have been a long time since you really thought about what interested YOU.

If you just take it one hour at a time, and one day at a time, you might find that you have many undiscovered talents and skills. Here are a couple small things that you can do to start filling up your time again.

• Relearn an Old Skill
  Did you have a skill or hobby that got pushed to the back burner once you started your family? Your kids may have become your top priority, leaving you with no time to pursue your own hobbies. With your new lifestyle, you can start to get back to that hobby you once loved. Because it might have been quite a long time since the last time you picked up your tennis racket or your paint brush, you might have to relearn a few things. Perhaps you have forgotten the rules or the proper technique. If that is something that you want to invite back into your life, you can relearn from a friend, read a book, watch a video or even take a class that could refresh your memory and get you back in the game.
• Try Something New
  Some things in life you would like to learn, but other priorities come first. Think if something interests you and give it a try. You can start out small by learning a little about it, and when you are confident in your knowledge of the subject, dive right in! Have you ever wanted to know how to sew? With the modern conveniences of today and your busy schedule, it was probably easier for you to visit the tailor and you never had the chance. With your newly acquired free time, you may want to look up some tutorials on the internet, or even take sewing lessons. Anything that you dreamed of being good at, at one point in your life, could become a reality now with your free time.
• Fulfill a Dream
  Don’t limit yourself to the day-to-day tasks – think BIG. You’re just now getting your second wind, and you could experience a whole change in your life. Now is the time to consider changing your career if your passion didn’t always match your lifestyle. You could start with some classes and possibly even start your own business. Create the garden you have always wanted, redecorate your newly empty rooms to the movie room you’ve been dreaming of, or plan a trip to reconnect with your children.

Whatever you decide to do with your time, remember, this is just the beginning!