How to Cope With Empty Nest Syndrome

Rediscover who you are outside of being a parent. This is the time to figure out who you are besides being a parent, as well as what you are passionate about outside of your children. Dr. Guy Wincher, psychologist, author and contributor to Psychology Today, suggests making a list of the other roles you have in your life, aside from being a parent, such as being a spouse, sister, brother and friend, and focus on how you can start investing more time into those relationships. You also want to make a list of interests and activities you want to pursue that you haven't had the time to do before, such as taking dance lessons, horseback riding lessons, giving back in your community, writing a novel or traveling.

Make concrete plans to keep yourself busy. Take the list of interests you made and focus on how you can start making them happen, rather than focusing on the sadness you feel about your children being gone. Take a writing class at a local community college to get started on your novel, or sign up for ballroom dance lessons. Get out of your comfort zone and try that treetop ropes course you've heard about, or take the plunge and learn how to scuba dive so you can make the most of a trip to a tropical destination. As a strategy to keep from talking yourself out of new experiences, always try to pay in advance whenever possible. Diving into your new interests can help accelerate your emotional adjustment, according to Wincher.

Reconnect with other loved ones. Siblings and friends may have taken a back seat to your role as a parent, but now you have the time to forge deeper bonds, curbing the sense of loss or loneliness you may be feeling about your children. Take charge and set dates for you and your siblings to meet up regularly if possible, whether it's monthly dinners or weekend get-togethers every few months. Strengthen your relationship with dear friends, especially those who may also have adult children who have recently left the home. You can support each other by focusing on exciting experiences, such as a ladies spa weekend in the city or a guys adventure camping trip.

Rekindle your love life. Perhaps you and your spouse have focused more on the children than each other. Now is the time to remember why you fell in love in the first place. Plan weekly date nights outside of the house as well as romantic nights in. Start a hobby together that you both have an interest in or travel. Support each other when one is feeling sad about the kids being gone. If you are single, you now have the time and freedom to get back in the dating world. Go out with other single friends to social events and networking mixers, or put up a profile on a reputable dating website and see how it goes. You never know where you'll meet that special someone, so commit to having an open mind and meeting a variety of people.

Forge a new relationship with your grown children. Rather than seeing their flight from the nest as a loss, think of it as an opportunity to redefine your relationship to them. Talk to your children about what they expect of your parent-child relationship going forward, suggests Linda Walter, psychotherapist and "Psychology Today" contributor. Whether they want to stay in very close contact, talking daily, or they want a little more space to spread their wings, let your kids know that you support them no matter what. Focus on the positive when you do connect with them. Offer advice rather than judgment when they share challenges or struggles with you. Your children may feel closer and want to stay connected with you if they know they can talk and confide in you, adult to adult.