HOW TO ADJUST TO YOUR NEW LIFE
SORT OUT YOUR FINANCES
Take stock of your finances and start planning for the next 30 years. There’s nothing more liberating than having your finances in shape.
RETHINK YOUR HOME
Redesign your living space: repaint the shabby bby family areas; smarten up the living room. While e technically your children ren no longer need designated bedrooms, it is tactful to wait as least st a few months before taking it as your study. .
DON’T BE NEEDY WITH ITH YOUR CHILDREN
Try to feel happy that they are launched and enjoying ying their new lives rather than moaning that they don’t n’t call you enough.
DON’T EXPECT YOUR R CHILDREN NOT TO NEED YOU
You’re still their parent t and starting university y can be tough. Engage with their new lives as much as they want you to and be a shoulder to cry on. They’ll find it unsettling if you start shutting them out.
MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON YOU, NOT THEM
Learn to put yourself first. Work out what you want to achieve over the next five
or 10 years and go for it. It’s your turn to fly the nest, too.
EXPECT RELATIONSHIPS TO CHANGE
Not just with your children but with your partner, too. Be kind to each other and yourself and talk about your fears with someone; some people suffer from empty nest syndrome more acutely than others.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Don’t expect your first business idea or job application to come off. Take stock and experiment.
TAP YOUR CHILDREN FOR ADVICE
Encourage your children to support any new venture. Pick their brains about social media and web design and get them to spread the word.
BOOK UP SOME FUN
Sign Sig up to weekly classes or a lecture series; book a date da night or a holiday; call up old friends.
LEARN LE NEW SKILLS
Don’t Do beat yourself up, though, tho for not wanting to take tak up kick-boxing or life drawing dr – best start with something som well within your yo comfort zone.
FOCUS FO ON YOUR HEALTH HE AND WELL-BEING
Set Se fitness goals for yourself, yo work out and do yoga. yo Master the art of relaxation. re Get back into reading r and lie-ins and enjoy e having full control over o what you watch on television.