Wellbeing Empty-nesters

Your kids have flown the coop, so now what? Everything, in fact!

It’s one of those times in life you can never prepare for – the day all of your babies have moved out of home. You may feel like shedding a tear or 10, but there’s no reason why you can’t grab this next stage of life by the horns.

“For most people, this is a time – if you do it right – you can come out with a greater sense of self,” says adjunct associate professor in clinical psychology Amanda Gordon. “It’s an opportunity to move into the next stage of your life with joy.”

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME

Seeing as you haven’t got your kids to run around after anymore (most days, anyway), why not spread the love to others in the community?

“Research shows volunteering delivers huge health benefits to volunteers themselves. This includes increased happiness, wellbeing, life satisfaction and community connectedness,” says The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate.

“It’s a wonderful way for empty-nesters to feel useful, keep active and learn new skills, or utilise and maintain existing ones while meeting new people,” Gemma explains.

“There’s a huge variety of volunteering roles out there to suit individual skills and interests, ranging from gardening or coaching to research and writing,” she adds.

RENT OUT A ROOM

“Empty-nesters are one of the biggest growth segments of hosts we’re seeing listing their spare room or extra space on Airbnb,” says Airbnb Australia country manager Sam Mcdonagh.

“They’re taking the opportunity to welcome travellers from across the world into their homes – all while earning a little extra cash on the side,” says Sam.

“On average, Australians earn around $4600 a year hosting on Airbnb. And while this may not sound like a lot, our hosts tell us this modest extra income helps pay for their own annual holiday.”

TRAVEL OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

“While travelling can be an opportunity to relax, it can also be an opportunity to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone,” says Webjet Exclusives CEO Paul Ryan.

Why not take a trip to Everest Base Camp, trek to Machu Picchu or cruise to Antarctica? Or if a spike in adrenaline isn’t your ur cup of tea, you can use your travel time to make a difference nce on a Holland nd America a Line cruise.