Rediscovering Your Why: Planning with Purpose in the Empty Nest Years

I raised two loud, rambunctious, healthy, wonderful boys. When I say the house gets quiet when the kids are grown and gone, I mean quiet!  You no longer have to plan dinners around ballgames or youth group meetings anymore. And while that’s nice, it can also leave you wondering, now what?

The empty nest years can feel a little strange at first, but they can also be such a sweet time to figure out what really matters to you now. Planning can actually help with that—not just keeping track of appointments, but planning your days with purpose. Yes, you still have purpose!

Planning isn’t just about time (I have plenty of that); it’s about making room for what matters most. When you know your “why,” your planner becomes a tool that helps you live on purpose instead of just reacting to the day.

Ask yourself:

• What makes me happy or gives me energy now?

• What kind of days do I want to have in this season?

• How can I use my time to serve, grow, or enjoy life the way God intended?

You can even jot those thoughts in the front of your planner or on a sticky note to keep them in sight.

Practical Ways to Plan with Purpose

Here are a few simple ways to get started:

1. Take a few minutes at the start of the week.
On Sunday evening or Monday morning, write a short thought or verse that sums up what you want the week to look like. Something like, “This week I’ll slow down and be grateful for quiet moments.” It sets your heart in the right place before things get moving.

2. Find a simple planning rhythm that works for you.
You don’t have to follow a big fancy system. Just try a few ideas:

• Pick your top three things each day.

• Block off time for what matters—like prayer, walking, errands, or even rest.

• If something takes less than two minutes, go ahead and do it.

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s peace. (Reminds me of my "Done, Not Perfect" House Cleaning Checklist!)

3. Pray while you plan.
Start your planning time by asking the Lord to guide your day. When you include Him in your plans, they have more meaning. Sometimes I like to write a verse on my daily page.

4. Don’t forget rest.
After years of busy family life, it’s easy to feel guilty resting. But rest is part of being productive. Go ahead and schedule downtime, hobbies, or even blank spaces. It all counts.

5. Add things that feed your heart.
Use your planner to plan projects that bring joy—organizing family photos, planting flowers, or writing down memories for your kids. It keeps your days purposeful and gives you something to look forward to, and helps you get things done, especially if your are a procrastinator as I can sometimes be!

Planning as a Way to Be Thankful

When you use your planner, you’re really counting blessings—your time, your health, your opportunities. Seeing your days on paper reminds you that each one is a gift. I like to add a little line at the bottom of my page: “Today I’m thankful for…” It changes your whole outlook.  Check out our "30 Days of Gratitude in November" freebie.

Living Out Your Why

Planning in this new season helps you stay focused on what’s important. It’s not about staying busy—it’s about staying intentional. Once you reconnect with your “why,” you’ll see that every day, even the quiet ones, can hold purpose and joy.

So grab your planner, pray over your week, write it down, and live it out—with purpose and peace.

If you enjoyed this post, visit my Etsy shop or check out the free printables at PlannerFun.com/freebies. Check out this article about simplifying your morning.