If your teen is going abroad to be a college freshman this year, you’re likely already experiencing it: the turmoil parents face when their kids spread their wings and move out of the house. It’s called empty nest syndrome.
Click start to play today’s Spell It, where you’ll find the long overdue ‘peace’ of mind you’ve been looking for, but at the cost of learning to live without the chaos and chatter of children in your home.
According to an August 2023 report in the US-based psychology news website Psychology Today, empty nest syndrome is real. Lasting from a few weeks to a few years, the feelings that crop up for parents include a sense of loss of purpose, sadness, loneliness and even depression. And that just has to do with emotions directed inwards – parents also tend to feel anxious and worried for their children who are stepping out into the world, and many find it hard to deal with the lack of control they now have in their affairs.
But there is a way to successfully combat the spiral of thoughts that come with an empty nest. According to the report, it’s known as a fresh-start mindset.
It’s exactly what it sounds like: a mindset that refers to one’s self-belief that one can make a new start, regardless of past events or present circumstances. Instead of dwelling on the past, and how things used to be, parents can instead focus on the future, and all they can still achieve.
Let’s face it, being an empty nester does have its advantages – less laundry to deal with, for instance, and a refrigerator that doesn’t run out of food the moment you fill it. The biggest advantage is time – you now have plenty of it to invest in self-growth.
Here are some ways you can use the fresh-start mindset to turn the situation around:
1. Focus on yourself
After having prioritised your family over your own needs for so long, it’s time for a change in perspective. It’s time to rediscover yourself. Get to know yourself better by finding out what you like, what you’re passionate about and what drives you to be your authentic self. Then, do more of those things that make you happy.
2. Reconnect with your partner
There was once a time when it was just you and your spouse, when you’d do everything together, and have a blast while doing it. Now that you’re both in an empty nest together, you can start to realise that it’s not really, truly empty – you have each other. It’s a great time to explore new hobbies, travel or work on projects that you can do together.
3. Build special relationships with your children
Your children are starting a new adventure, and they still need you – just in a different way from what you’re used to. If you were the CEO for your young kids earlier, you’ve now switched roles to a consultant for your older kids, so guide and direct them but allow them to have the final say. Even if they make mistakes – which can be hard to watch – know that it’s part of life and growing up.
4. Reinvent your daily routine
The single biggest change that might impact you is the change to your daily routine. Take it as an opportunity to create a new one, which focuses on your emotional and physical well-being. Go for early morning walks, for instance, and learn to perfect your sleep.
5. Expand your social circle
It’s also a great time to reconnect with old friends, who are likely in the same stage of life as you, and to make new friends. Social connections have long been known to support our mental and physical health. Real, meaningful, in-person social relationships make life more enjoyable.
Are you experiencing an empty nest this year? Play today’s Spell It and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
