■ Unplug from your phone: I know, I know, the fear of missing a call from your now-college student is legit. However, research exposes that taking time away from your smartphone is good for you, as it “improves sustained attention, mental health, and subjective well-being.” So leave your phone (and Apple watch!) at home and go on a walk when you know your kid is in class. ■ Read a book: People who read for just six minutes experience reduced muscle tension and a slower heart rate, accord- ing to University of Sussex researchers. If you’re not a reader, try listening to an audiobook instead. ■ Start a journal: Journaling is not just for middle-school girls. It is a really helpful and important tool for processing real, hard-to- handle emotions. BE INTENTIONAL WITH FRIENDS As a parent of kids with busy schedules that often overflowed with social events and extracurriculars, maybe most of your friends are the parents of your kids’ friends. Or, perhaps you had close friends once upon a time… but between work,
moves, and life, you grew apart. No matter your “relationship status” with your friends, it’s never too late to be intentional. Plan a weekend college reunion, go see a high school friend, or get together for lunch with those basketball mamas (or dads). You’re allowed to stay friends even though Whether it’s a fitness goal like running a half-marathon or a delicious dream like baking your first three-layer cake, create a bucket list for yourself. Setting both long- and short-term goals is not only a “fun idea,” it’s essential. Spend time writing down things you aspire to accomplish, places you hope to go, and things you want to do. Dream big! It can be as outlandish as you want, though adding more simple or straight-forward goals are certainly encouraged too. Congratulations—you’ve made it through every parenting phase, and now your youngest has flown the coop. Trust that you’ve raised them well and embrace the gift of empty nesting. We encourage you to enjoy this exciting new chapter of life! your kids aren’t in town anymore! CREATE A BUCKET LIST
plus years), you are free to travel anytime in the fall or spring. It doesn’t have to be fancy or two weeks long. The key is to give you something to look forward to that gets you out of the house and puts you in your happy place, helping you dislodge yourself from the emotional rut you might occasion- ally find yourself in. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF- When was the last time you really, truly devoted time and energy to your physical, emotional, and mental health? Amid the hustle and bustle of kids, you always come in last… but now that you’ve sent off the last one, you finally have time for you. But “me time” won’t come naturally—remem- ber, you’ve been trained to not think about you, even when there’s throw-up on your shirt or you’re running on four hours of sleep because someone decided to stay out past curfew. There are a few ways you can reconnect with and invest in yourself. ■ Try a new type of exercise: Maybe you’re already working out, but branching out to try a new kind of exercise or a new group fitness class can be a somewhat scary but exciting and rewarding opportunity.
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