Empty Nest, Full Life: A Mindset Reset for Women in Their 60s

The Mindset Reset: Rewriting the Story of Aging

When I turned 60, people told me this was supposed to be the “freedom decade.” More time for myself, more space to enjoy life. But the reality felt very different.

People often talk about becoming an “empty nester” like it’s a single day — the moment the last child leaves home. But I’ve learned that it’s not just a moment. It’s a season in itself.

In my own life, that season has stretched across years: raising three kids while working and going to graduate school, supporting them through the ups and downs of young adulthood, becoming a grandmother, caring for my parents as they aged, and even grieving the loss of both of my fathers. Alongside all of that, I’ve been navigating my own health challenges — including multiple surgeries and long recoveries.

And woven through all of this has been my marriage. Eric and I just celebrated 40 years together — a milestone I’m deeply grateful for. But let me tell you, keeping a marriage strong while balancing children, careers, caregiving, and health isn’t simple. Like so many couples, we’ve had to renegotiate our roles in this new chapter. How do we support each other while also making space for ourselves? How do we keep connection alive while life keeps pulling us in so many directions?

This empty nest season has been about more than just kids leaving home. It’s about relearning how to be with each other again — not just as parents, but as partners.

And in the middle of it all, I often found myself asking the question so many women in their 50s and 60s ask: When is it my time? 

The Old Story vs. The New Story

For so long, the story I’d heard about aging was one of decline and self-sacrifice. The old story whispered things like:

• “My best years are behind me.”
• “Everyone else’s needs come first — my kids, my grandkids, my parents, my work.”
• “I’ll find time for myself later.”

But “later” never seemed to come.

That’s when I realized women in the same phase I’m in need a mindset reset.

The new story we can began to write is different. It sounds more like this:

• “I can love and support my family while also protecting my own health and energy.”
• “I deserve time for myself — not someday, but now.”
• “Aging doesn’t mean fading away. It can mean showing up with more wisdom, clarity, and glow than ever before.”

That shift doesn’t erase the responsibilities or the challenges — but it can change how we carry them. Instead of feeling invisible or depleted, I see myself as a woman in her 60s with strength, purpose, and a story still unfolding.

How I Began to Shift

The turning point for me came when I realized I could no longer keep pouring from an empty cup. But it happened over a period of time. Years of caregiving, medical issues, and grief had taken a toll. If I wanted to keep showing up for the people I love, I had to invest in myself, too.

That meant making real changes:

• Deciding on my career shift was the biggest change. After several years of certification programs in plant-based nutrition and health coaching, I finally decided to retire from my almost 40 year nursing career to follow my passions.
• Transitioning to a whole-food, plant-based diet that gave me more energy and reduced inflammation.
• Committing to consistent movement into my week — walking, Pilates, yoga, strength training.
• Allowing time for rest, mindfulness, and reflection, even if just 10 minutes a day.
• Getting honest about relationships and commitments, and choosing the ones that gave me energy instead of draining it.

Bit by bit, those changes are adding up. My confidence is growing, even in the face of fear. My body is feeling stronger as I recover from my spinal surgery and look towards a high level of physical strength and activity. My mind feels clear, focused and motivated. And most importantly, I feel present — not just for others, but for myself.

The Practice

Mindset resets don’t happen all at once. They happen in small, intentional steps, with a view towards a future self you can look forward to with a balanced sense of hope and realism. But those small steps? They are what move us forward.

Here’s one you can try today:

✍🏼 Journal Prompt: Write one sentence about what excites you in this chapter of life — something just for you.

It could be:

• “Planning a trip I’ve always dreamed of.”
• “Spending more time in nature.”
• “Taking a class to learn something new.”
• “Building strength and confidence in my body.”

Writing down what excites you is a way of claiming it — of reminding yourself that this season isn’t only about caregiving. It’s also about growth. Give yourself the freedom to dream, and then follow that up with a small but actionable step you can take.

Your Time, Too

Yes, aging is inevitable. But decline, invisibility, and losing yourself in everyone else’s story? Those are optional.

Our 50s, 60s, and way beyond can be the years where we honor and celebrate our roles — as wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, friend, professional — and honor and celebrate ourselves.

Because this season of life isn’t only about everyone else. It’s about me and it’s about you, too.

And sometimes, the most powerful mindset reset we can make is to finally say:
Now is the time for me.

Are you feeling tired, stretched thin, or wondering when it’s finally your time? You’re not alone. That’s exactly why I created my free Sexy in Your 60s Reset Workshop.

I’ll share the 3 keys that help women move from fatigue and frustration to energy, confidence, and purpose.

✨ You’ll leave with practical steps you can use right away.

👉 Join me here: https://www.slant2plants.com/workshop