Spice It Up! 20 Ways to Add Zest to Your Empty Nest! (Part 2)
Is your empty nest dull and bland? Are you looking for ways to spice things up? There are countless ways to add zest to your nest and I’m sharing 20 of them! (10 in this post and 10 in the previous one.) These are activities you can do alone, with your spouse, your family, or your friends!
Like a teaspoon of salt can flavor a whole pot, trying one idea will lead to more. Soon you’ll be inventing your own zesty ideas. Are you ready to stir things up? Let’s go!
#11 ROAD TRIP!
There’s something thrilling and magical about those two words: Road Trip! You really can’t say them without the exclamation point.
Whether it’s a weekend escape for two, a girls’ getaway, or a cross-country odyssey to check destinations off your bucket list, a road trip promises good times and adventure! Note: one stipulation of a ROAD trip is that you are on the ROAD. No flying or cruising by ship allowed. Half the fun of the journey is the driving.
Use time in the car to chat with your companion(s); to catch up on life, reminisce, plan for the future, or simply live in the moment. Get off the interstate and slow down on more scenic back roads. Listen to your favorite playlist or an audiobook. Plan your stops ahead or drive by the seat of your pants–whichever makes you happier.
Your goal is to get out of your nest and take on a spirit of adventure!
#12 TRY A NEW RECIPE
What better way to add spice than to add spice!? Whether you’re trying a new gourmet recipe or a friend’s five-ingredient skillet dish, experimenting in the kitchen is so much fun! Oh, it’s true that some experiments fail, but if you don’t try new meals, you may be stuck in your “taco-grillingmeat-spaghetti-chickencasserole-frozenpizza” rotation for eternity.
With recipes available on your phone or laptop, there’s no reason to stay in your rut! Some of my favorite recipe websites are Pinch of Yum, All Recipes, and Yummy Addiction. For healthy choices, try Skinny Taste. I’ve shared a few of our favorite recipes in my Free Resource Library–check them out!
Are you feeling inadequate in the kitchen? Sign up for a cooking or baking class! Get together with a friend and do some meal prep together. Be creative. Your taste buds will thank you!
#13 ATTEND A RETREAT
Do you need a break? A chance to rest your mind and body while filling your soul? Time to get closer to God or to your spouse? Consider a retreat.
My husband and I recently attended a marriage retreat hosted by Jill and Mark Savage (engaging speakers, btw!). Even in a good marriage, things like communication and connection can always be better. We planned a week-long getaway through upper Michigan after the retreat and it really was a great boost to our marriage. Last night we raised our voices at each other over some silly thing, and I realized this was the first time we had done so in over a month! (That’s good for us, LOL!) I credit the marriage retreat for this improvement in our relationship.
I’ve also attended women’s retreats and prayer retreats, and have fashioned my own personal writing retreat. (Read about it here.) Each time I have come away with new knowledge, insight, and a feeling of peace.
If you haven’t been on a retreat, why not try it? Stepping away from the daily grind and responsibilities might be all you need to set your life in a new direction.
#14 ENJOY AN ART FAIR/SHOW
There’s no need to bring your wallet. Art fairs are a free feast for the eyes! Of course, there is often the opportunity to buy as well, and if your house could use some new decor and you have the means, purchasing is a great way to support the arts.
But back to the feast I mentioned. Art is a gateway to the imagination, and one of the splendid gifts God has given us. Whenever I attend an art show (Grand Rapids, Michigan’s “ArtPrize” is one of the biggest and best), I am in awe of the variety and scope of the human mind’s capacity for creativity. Arts and crafts communities also shine a light on the beauty that can be fashioned from wood, metal, cloth, or clay.
Perhaps attending an art show or an arts and crafts fair will spark your own creativity. The empty-nest years are the perfect time to revisit the skills you once practiced or always dreamed of learning (more on that in idea #15).
#15 TAKE UP A HOBBY
The kids are gone. The house is quiet. And if you spend another hour in front of the TV or scrolling social media, you might just lose your mind. So why not take up a hobby?
You could get back to that scrapbook you started when the kids were young but then you put aside due to the busyness of their teenage years. You could finally take that knitting or sewing lesson. Or sign up for a photography or cake-decorating class. Maybe you’d like to try your hand at woodworking, gardening, or home brewing. Have you always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument? Even simple crafts like coloring or diamond art can be relaxing and fun. The possibilities are truly endless.
If you want to take up a new hobby, start with the basics and a minimal investment until you are sure it’s something you want to pursue. Do a little research first to make sure it’s a good fit for your available time and resources. Then jump in and see how it goes! What hobby did you give up that you want to get back to? What new hobby is calling your name?
(Yes, these are my beautiful daughters (below), showing us how it's done!)
#16 READ A BOOK
I wish I was a fast reader, but truth be told, I am not. My TBR (To Be Read) list grows faster than my “Read” list and every time someone mentions another title they loved, I feel the need to add another–I’ve got to know what I’m missing out on!
How is your reading life? Can you relate?
Rather than focus on all the books out there to be read, I remind myself to review the list of those read and to reflect on what I’ve learned through or enjoyed about them. I keep track of all my book lists on Goodreads and set annual goals (modest ones for this slow reader!) for the number I hope to read. The goals are a key to my success, as I gradually increase that number year after year.
Another way to motivate myself is to read at least two books at once, one fiction and one nonfiction. Since the purpose of each is different, it’s easy enough for me to switch back and forth. And don’t forget the convenience of audiobooks! You can “read” while you’re walking, cleaning, or driving, and no, it’s not “cheating” to do so. The readers’ voices often bring the books to life in ways the words on the page can’t.
Need recommendations? Go to my “store” at Bookshop.org or click on my Resource Library (above).
#17 EXPLORE A NEARBY PARK
If you live near a state or national park, why not plan a visit? There might even be some real gems in the county parks nearby. I don’t know about you, but we haven’t taken advantage of the natural wonders right outside our front door as much as we could have over the years. It seemed there was always “something else to do” around the house or with the kids’ busy schedules.
Now, with the extra time our empty nest gives us, we have no excuse! Visiting a park is a great Sunday afternoon activity–a way to extend our worship at church into communing with God in his creation. Although “doing nothing” on a Sunday afternoon is tempting, getting outside promises to be more fulfilling, even inspiring. Your nearby park is a great place to start! With trails, nature walks, and opportunities for wildlife sightings, you’ll probably be asking yourself, “Why haven’t we been here before?” and “When can we come again?”
#18 VOLUNTEER!
Empty-nesters and retirees are some of the best candidates for volunteer positions–at church, the local school, or in the community. We often have more time, more flexibility, and a wealth of knowledge and experience. As demands on your time lessen with the flight of all your little birds from the nest, perhaps you’re looking for more ways to use your gifts.
Are you good with children? Sign up to be a reading buddy at the local elementary school, teach Sunday school, or lead a children’s worship program. Do you enjoy food? Take a shift serving at a homeless shelter, help with a food drive, or make a meal for someone experiencing a rough time. Are you into shopping and retail? My sisters both volunteer at thrift stores and say it's quite fun! Are you crafty? Join a knitting, crocheting, or card-making ministry that provides for the sick and elderly. Is music or theater up your alley? Join the choir or your church’s worship team, or volunteer to usher at your local theater (hmmm...free tickets?).
These are just a few ideas for giving of your time. You won't reap in dollars, but instead, in the satisfaction of knowing you made a difference for someone else.
#19 TRY A SIDE HUSTLE
Are you looking for a little extra cash during the empty-nest years? A side hustle is “a job or occupation that brings in extra money beyond one's regular job or main source of income.” I also think of it as “FUN money”. Not only because you might spend the extra cash on FUN things like travel, entertainment, or a new outfit, but also because your side hustle is something you have FUN doing!
The possibilities are as many as your interests, skills, and gifts allow. Here are some examples from my own experience: freelance writing, life coaching, hosting an Airbnb, making and selling crafty items (e.g. sugar scrubs, date-night jars). I have friends and relatives who’ve opened Etsy shops to sell their beautiful greeting cards, custom t-shirts, mugs, and more. If you can dream it, you can do it!
A few tips.
1) Start small with family and friends to test your product or service.
2) Don’t quit your day job if you depend on that income.
3) Whatever side hustle you choose, be sure to have FUN!
#20 KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
My final suggestion for adding a little spice to your empty nest (or any kind of nest) is to keep a gratitude journal all year long. It takes very little time to jot down one, three, or more things you’re grateful for. Set aside a few minutes at the end of each day to help you reflect on what was good. Or, if you prefer, begin your morning with a gratitude list to provide a good mindset throughout your day. After writing down your thoughts, take a moment to thank the Giver of all those gifts. And don’t forget to speak or write regular thank-yous to your spouse, kids, family, and friends as well!
You might wonder how being grateful will add spice to your empty nest. Fair question.
I think it’s not so much about adding spice, as it is about noticing the spice that’s already there. Paying attention to the blessings in your life is like tuning your tastebuds to experience all the flavor God has already abundantly added to your life.
So eat up! Add some spice. Enjoy the feast that is your life. And thank God for it all!
I thank YOU, my friends, for joining me on this empty-nest joyride!
