BOLD & SAVVY Magazine September-October Issue | Page 15

Instead there is time to get away together for a few days or even longer. The hobbies and projects that have been put on hold can now come to the forefront. What is that thing you have never seemed to have time for? There is no time like the present to get to it.

Have you ever thought about volunteering at a nearby school? An hour each week or even once each month would work wonders not only in boosting your energy but also in seeing the anticipation of the children as you share with them.

What about working out? You may not have had any time in the past but now that you have more time on your hands, it is worth looking in to joining a gym in an effort to take care of your body and treat it like the temple it is.

Have you ever traveled outside of your city, state, even the country? The world is so very interesting. Thankfully with search engines at our finger tips we can conduct research on different areas from home and then go out to explore them in person. Recently a friend embarked on a cross country trip in America and it was so exciting seeing the country through her postings on social media.

What about a career change or creating a business based on your passion? With more time to plan you can launch that business that seemed only a dream before. With proper planning and preparing it may surprise you the opportunities and resources that available to help bring your dream to life.

I found the following list online and thought you might gain more ideas from it. Whatever you decide to do or not to do, enjoy your life; make the most of each day, inhale deeply and don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.

1.Take dance lessons. Learn how to tango, salsa, line dance or ballroom dance. You'll have fun, get great exercise and be able to surprise everyone with your moves at the next party.

2.Take up a sport. Perhaps you've always wanted to try water polo, ice hockey, fencing or kickboxing. Maybe you want to get reacquainted with a sport you grew up playing. Now is the perfect time to tap into your athletic side. Adult rec leagues in kickball, Wiffle ball, and other sports are becoming really popular and are springing up in cities around the country.

3.Learn a new language. Brush up on the foreign language skills you might already have or learn an entirely new one. Then think about actually using your new Italian vocabulary someplace fabulous like Rome!

4.Get musical. Resurrect your piano prowess or take up a new musical instrument. Take some jazz classes or join a rock band. There are lots of adult ed programs and music schools that help organize students into ensembles, or you can recruit friends into your own garage band.

5.Go back to school. Finally get that master's degree or take some art history or film appreciation classes at a local community college or through adult ed.

6.Become a cinephile. Explore a new film genre or start a film discussion group - so much less homework than a book club! Use Netflix to host your own in-house film fest or volunteer at a local film festival.

7.Date your spouse. Now that the kids are on their own, get back in touch with your partner. Go on dates, learn about each other and remember what life was like before the kids came along.

8.Get outdoors. Go camping, take up hiking or volunteer at a nearby nature preserve.

9.Volunteer. You've probably spent hundreds of hours helping out at your child's school over the years. Now devote your time to any of the great causes in your community: the local library, civic group, historical society, museum or arts organization.

10.Travel. Now that you don't have to vacation strictly in the summer, you can take advantage of off-season airfare and hotel rates.

https://www.thespruce.com/empty-nest-syndrome-survival-guide-3570530

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