Spice It Up! 20 Ways to Add Zest to Your Empty Nest (Part 1)

Nov 12, 2022

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’ll share 20 of them in this post and the next! 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!

#1 Take a Color Tour

In America’s Midwest, the hardwood trees explode with color in Autumn! Like fireworks in the sky, the glory is only there for a moment and then it’s gone. By late fall, the trees are brown and bare. Before the show is over, take a drive (or walk or ride a bike) just to look at the colors! I promise it will fill your soul.

This fall, my husband, Tom, and I spent a week in northern Michigan just before the peak color season. As we drove the curvy, hilly roads alongside lakes and forests, every few minutes one of us would point and say, “Wow! Look at that.”

To add even more adventure and fun, we took a chairlift ride to the top of Boyne Mountain to get a bird’s-eye view of God’s handiwork. (Many ski resorts offer these rides in their off-seasons.) Snuggled close in the chill fall air, our feet dangling some 30 feet above the slope below, we drank in the yellows, oranges, and reds that surrounded us. And since our tickets included unlimited rides for one day, we rode up one more time as night was falling, giving us a whole new view with shadows and lights, along with a whole new kind of fun!

Whichever way you do it–by car, on foot or bike, or suspended in the air–get out there and add some color (and spice!) to your life!

#2 Build a Fire

Ingredients: Wood, a fire starter or kindling, and matches. Oh, and a safe place to build it! I suggest a backyard or portable outdoor fire pit for this time of year, but an indoor fireplace works as well. Optional ingredients: Fixins for s’mores and marshmallow roasting sticks.

There is nothing as relaxing as sitting around a fire; nothing more mesmerizing than dancing flames. Although I’m not a fan of smoke burning my eyes, smelling that campfire smoke in my clothes once I’m back inside sparks memories of my teenage years, my college days, and our early family camping trips.

Last year, I shared a DIY Date Night Idea jar with 52 date night ideas. Tom and I are still working our way through the jar. (No, we haven’t pulled out one idea a week, as intended. What can I say? We are a work in progress!) The first idea we drew out was “Build a Campfire.” I realized this was something we rarely did for the two of us, but usually only for parties or when Tom was working in the yard and started a burn pile. We did it, and it was fun!

Why not give it a try? A “Fire for Two” is a simple way to add some romantic zest to your nest.

#3 Complete a Project

What’s on your to-do list that never seems to make it to the top? Cleaning the attic? Painting the entryway? Is your closet still brimming with spring and summer clothes while the fall and winter ones are slowly emerging?

What about those artsy-craftsy things you’ve been meaning to finish? Or start? I have a baby quilt project I started before my oldest was born 31 years ago! I finished the cross-stitching long ago, but I’ve never learned how to quilt. Now that my nest is empty, I hope to sign up for that quilting class so I can finish it for my grandbabies!

What are you waiting for? Do you need to learn a new skill to finish that project? You can do it! The empty nest season is the perfect time to pull those scraps out of the sewing basket, the paintbrush out of the storage closet, or the drill off the tool bench, and get ‘er done!

(Middle pics below: I learned to use a drill and installed the hardware in our cabin’s kitchen!)

#4 Go See A Game

The Knights, Spartans, Boilers, Eddies, Fighting Irish, Wildcats, Oles, and now Badgers! These are the teams our family has cheered for. Who do you root for?

While my husband is definitely more of a sports nut than I am, I do enjoy watching a good game! Football and basketball are our favorites–and attending in person is a whole new ballgame (haha)! The atmosphere is electric and it sure beats sitting on the couch and watching on the tube at home.

With pep bands, marching bands, cheerleaders, big screens, announcers, and even concessions, there is a realness to the experience that you can only get by being there. Sitting in the stands, you can’t help cheering when your team scores, or jumping up with arms like one of those blowup noodle guys when “the wave” comes around to your seating section. Go see a game and cheer on YOUR team!

#5 Try Wine Tasting

Do you enjoy a glass of wine now and then with dinner or dessert? Drinking wine can be pleasurable, but “tasting” wine is an art, a skill, and a whole different experience.

I’m still a novice, but the more I visit wineries and compare tastes side by side, the more adept I’m becoming at describing the body of the wine, the fruitiness, spiciness, aroma, or finish. Learning about the different grapes and processes involved in winemaking is fascinating and educational.

But the best part? Standing atop a hill, gazing down over the neat vineyard rows while sipping wine with a loved one.

#6 Visit Your Local Library(or check out a new one.)

My daughter’s first job out of college was at a local library. I may be a little late on the scene, but that’s when I first realized how many great things (besides books!) the library has to offer! There are workshops and book clubs and cooking classes and well, just oodles of programs and events! Most are free and open to the public. While books open up new worlds through the imagination, libraries can help you expand your horizons and meet new people IRL!

So if you haven’t been to your library in a while, go check it out!

(Since the aforementioned daughter is now studying to become a librarian, I’ve started walking through random libraries while snapping pictures on our travels!)

#7 Take a Bike Ride

Whether you’ve been riding regularly through your adult years or haven’t mounted your bike since you were a kid, cycling in your empty nest years can be a great pastime!! Many empty-nesters and retirees call cycling their sport of choice. It’s great exercise, easier on the joints than running, and most of all, riding is pleasurable! Compared to driving around in a car, when you move at a slower pace you have time to soak in the beauty–noticing tiny flowers, wildlife, or your neighbors’ landscaping improvements.

My husband and I have found many safe, lovely trails near our home and on our travels. We’ve also joined organized rides (there are countless available) that have helped us set goals for ourselves and feel like part of a supportive and fun-loving community. (Read more about our biking adventures here.)

So gear up! Make sure your old ride is in good condition or if you’re able, get fitted for a new one. Give yourself time to adapt to being in the saddle (and to using muscles that have been only couch-sitting for a while) by training regularly–slowly building up your endurance and strength. Then, enjoy the ride!

#8 Go for a Walk

Where I live, Summer valiantly attempted to interrupt Autumn in late November, with temperatures approaching the mid-70s today. Then, two days later, Winter showed up and blasted us with cold air and snow showers. Welcome to Michigan!

I’ll admit, I’m much more likely to take a walk on a warm and sunny day than on a blustery, snowy one. Still, I’ve done both, and as long as I’m dressed for the weather, I’ve found the walks to be just what the doctor ordered!

A walk not only increases your heart rate and gets the blood pumping through your veins, it also strengthens your bones and muscles. Aside from physical health benefits, research shows that taking a walk can boost your mood. Often, I put my earphones in and listen to music to add to the pleasure. Walking can increase creativity, so if you’re working on a problem or thinking through an issue you can’t solve, taking a walk might spark new ideas. I can bear witness to that as it’s my go-to activity for writer’s block!

If I haven’t convinced you yet, here are a couple more “useful” benefits to taking walks. You can listen to a favorite podcast or an audiobook. It helps the time fly. Or walk with a friend or your spouse for meaningful conversation and connection.

Whichever way you do it, just do it!

#9 Host a Party

We shouldn’t stress about having a clean house before inviting friends over, but of course, we do. So now that the kids are gone, and we only need to clean up after ourselves and our spouse, there’s really no excuse.

Are you a party thrower? Do you prefer an intimate soiree of just a few close friends or a large bash with a mile-long guest list? I’ve hosted and been on the receiving end of both. Either way, a party will spice up your quiet empty nest!

With a smaller gathering, it’s easier to talk to everyone. I relish the time after the meal has been served when the conversation takes off. But making a meal for even a small party can be stressful. Keep it simple, by asking guests to bring a dish, by serving appetizers and drinks only, or by preparing dishes ahead of time. Add some “flavor” with a food theme, such as Mexican, fondue, autumn, Irish, etc.

Same goes for a big shindig. Unless you can afford a catering service, it’s best to prepare easy dishes ahead of time, so you are only concerned with keeping the bowls and platters full. Perhaps you could even hire a couple of teens to top things off as needed. Less time in the kitchen and more time socializing will surely add to your enjoyment and increase the chances you’ll want to host again!