How to Build a Fulfilling Social Life as an Empty Nester
Becoming an empty-nester is less common now than it once was, as far as life milestones are concerned. It’s easy to dread the day your little ones finally come of age and flow the coop when it’s a certainty; in this day and age, though, when more and more adult children are threatening to remain at home under the protective wing of Mum, Dad and their cheap accommodation, you’d be forgiven for getting itchy feet of your own. Still, for those (un)lucky enough, that bittersweet moment when your kids do up sticks is more bitter than sweet.
It can also reveal the shocking amount of time previously devoted to your kids and their rearing – time now as available to you as their bedroom square-footage is. It’s easy to fall into a bit of a post-kids slump at this point – but here, we’re going to talk about filling your newfound time wisely. As a newly-minted empty nester, here’s how to create an active, rewarding social life by building new connections, rediscovering interests and making the most of this new life stage.
1. Embracing the social shift after the empty nest
First, it’s important to reckon with what exactly happens when your nest grows emptier. It’s a bellwether moment, a pivot around which your life changes considerably. Though you’ll always be a parent to your children, you’re no longer a parent in the sense that you’re picking up their dirty socks from around the house, or dropping everything to give lifts. Your schedule is freer than it’s ever been – and this can be overwhelming, to say the least.
This dramatic shift in energy can be a disconcerting one at first, but it’s important to reckon with this discomfort early. It’s a dramatic shift in how you spend your time, and crucially, who you spend it with the most. It’s normal for social circles to change, and this is an extension of that same phenomenon; equally, it’s an opportunity to intentionally create new friendships and routines.
2. Finding community through shared interests and local spaces
How, then, should you intentionally create your new friendships? Well, a good start would be to revisit your hobbies and interests. It might be a novel thing to have the time for hobbies again, but roll with it and you may find opportunities for friends too!
There are many ways to actively meet new people, and your hobbies are an excellent key for doing so; joining clubs, starting classes and volunteering with local groups are all fantastic routes to finding community. In fact, community is a powerful word for what you can foster with your new time – and one you can lean into a bit more actively now you don’t have to worry about school catchment areas. Having an empty nest means you can move it to better meet your needs! New-build homes in new, thriving communities make it possible for you to form the new connections you deserve.
3. Maintaining connections and building confidence Socially
Making friends is one thing, but keeping them is something else entirely. Maintaining friendships can feel like new territory when you’ve been so used to keeping a household, but, with a little grace period, you’ll find it’s much easier than it looks. All you need is a little time (of which you have plenty) and a little confidence.
Top photo by Diana Parkhouse on Unsplash
