Are you trying to figure out what is next as you become an empty nester? Have you been so focused on your family and children that you have lost a sense of who you are without them? You are not alone.
Whether you are a working mom or a stay-at-home mom most of us experience the same type of feelings as our children get older and less dependent on us. I will admit it is harder for some than others.
Do you feel like one day you woke up and your children didn’t need you as much? This is a good thing. This means you have done a good job. Your job isn’t over as a mom. I believe it is never over. The good news is that you have more time to focus on what you want to do and accomplish as empty nesters.
But where do you start? How do we discover what is next in life for you? This is especially true if you have lost touch with who you really are.
For me, there was a time I believed that I could not do something that I had always wanted to do because time had passed me by and I was too old. Looking back now, I know that was crazy but it is because I had such limiting beliefs. You can read the whole story here in Following Your Dreams At Any Age.
How did I discover what is next in life?
Have you been a stay-at-home mom and now you want to go back out into the workforce? That can be a scary thing. After my divorce, I knew I wanted to work but I did not know where to start. First, I decided to get my real estate license. I had seen my mother sell real estate and thought this might be a good fit for me as well. Unfortunately, I got my license in 2006 which was not a good time in the real estate market. Looking back I believe I didn’t give it long enough to see if I could make a go of it or not.
Just like anything when you first start there is not going to be instant gratification. It wasn’t until a few years later that I really understood this. I just imagined since I was good at sales and marketing that I would be good at selling real estate. But like most things, it takes time and continuing to do something even when you aren’t seeing immediate results. Consistency compounds just like money in the bank.
Next, I decided I needed a structured job. I wanted a job with benefits and a steady salary. Putting together a resume was a little depressing since I hadn’t worked in more than 16 years. Finally, I had it put together and sent it out to any jobs that I thought might be a good fit for me.
I finally landed a job (commission only) to sell janitorial services for commercial buildings. This may not seem very glamorous, but I learned a lot and I really loved my job and the people I worked with even though I never made much money.
My dream had always been to own my own business and be my own boss but I just couldn’t find the right thing until I tried a few other things. I finally landed on my dream job of owning a Pure Barre Studio and then from there I have found my way to being a Health/Lifestyle Coach with Well and Worthy Life.
So how do YOU discover what is next as you become an empty nester?
You must try different things. As you try the different things you have to give it long enough to see if it is the right fit for you. Remember consistency is the key. Doing it long enough to be able to see the results. This could be a new career, volunteering with an organization, or just working on yourself. Do you need some ideas? Go listen to the podcast on Well and Worthy Life on Empty Nesting and Reinventing Ourselves with Cathy Williamson.
Being a mother has been one of the best jobs I have ever had but having time for myself finally and focusing on something besides my family gives me the satisfaction and fulfillment that I had been looking for as an empty nester.
Are you already an empty nester? What advice would you give to a “new” empty nester? Share in the comments below.
