Happier with Gretchen Rubin Bonus Episode: Who Am I Without Kids at Home? (Gretchen Rubin on “Laugh Lines”)
Nov 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, bestselling author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin dives into the transformative phase after children leave home, reframing the ‘empty nest’ as an ‘open door’ filled with new possibilities. She shares tips on adjusting expectations with distant kids and emphasizes the importance of healthy habits during transitions. With humor and insight, Gretchen encourages creating new traditions, managing check-ins wisely, and even taking a ‘buffercation’ to ease the change. Plus, she explores how parents can reinvent their identities post-child-rearing.
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Reframe The Empty Nest
- Rebrand the empty nest as an “open door” to invite possibility and hospitality into the transition.
- Treat yourself as available but independent: be present when needed, and pursue your own work and routines.
Replace Numbing Habits With Energizers
- Notice which coping habits make you feel worse and replace them with energizing routines like sleep, exercise, and social connection.
- Choose comforting activities that genuinely lift you instead of numbing behaviors that deepen distress.
Choose Healthy, Experiential Treats
- Give yourself healthy treats that revive you, not just indulgences you regret later.
- Substitute experiential treats — classes, immersive activities, or social walks — to distract rumination and uplift mood.
