Combat Empty Nest Syndrome by Dancing
As college drop-off looms, nip empty nest syndrome in the bud by scheduling dance lessons at Fred Astaire Dance Studios.
Empty nest syndrome refers to the sadness many parents, particularly mothers, feel as their children leave home. Sending your child off to college or helping them get moved into their first apartment causes mixed emotions. Parents are excited for this next chapter in their children’s lives but fear the looming quiet and loneliness of an empty house. Many parents find it difficult to adjust to not being a part of the daily lives of their children. Some women even experience mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes as part of empty nest syndrome.
Experts recommend taking some steps to make the transition to an empty nest seamless.
- Create a Communication Plan. Smartphones allow us to be in constant communication with our loved ones. Parents need to make sure to give their children space to grow and gain independence, and relying on your advice on a daily basis may do more harm than good. Work with your child to establish a reasonable communication plan before they hit the open road. Plan to set up a time to video chat at least once per week. Let your children know you are still there for them if they need you.
- Find a Support System. You had children at home for at least 18 years, and for many people, that might be most of their adult life. Find a group of like-minded parents to lean on who understand what it’s like to weather this milestone.
- Stay Positive. Focus on the benefits of an empty nest. Now is the perfect time to find a new hobby, travel, and cultivate your relationships with your friends.
- Reconnect With Spouse. Parenting a house full of children can cause many couples to drift apart. Juggling work, childcare, and chores can make scheduling regular date nights difficult. Now that your evenings are no longer busy helping kids with homework, attending youth sporting events, and being a chauffeur, finding time to spend with your spouse can move to the top of your to-do list.
Take A Dance Lesson at FADS
If one of your goals is to reconnect with your spouse, Fred Astaire Dance Studios recommends scheduling some dance lessons to have fun and find common ground. Our group and private lessons are a great way to rekindle the spark in your relationship and improve your mood. Dancing releases endorphins that help alleviate depression, stress, and anxiety. Hitting the dance floor can help you battle empty nest syndrome in a fun, social atmosphere. Learning how to salsa, swing, and foxtrot will give you a hobby you can enjoy for years to come.
If you still need some inspiration to take the leap, check out these romantic clips of couples getting into the swing of things from some great movies.
Star-crossed lovers Kate Sharma and Antony Bridgerton shine on the dance floor in this romantic scene from the Netflix series “Bridgerton.”
Electricity flows between Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick Jr. as they two-step to a country tune in the movie “Hope Floats.”
Isabel Conklin gets to dance with her childhood crush, Conrad Fisher, at the debutante ball in the new Amazon Prime smash hit series “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” based on the young adult novels by Jenny Han.
If you’re ready to spice up your marriage and take your mind off your empty nest, contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location to give ballroom dancing a whirl.
