Leaving the Family Nest

It takes effort for a young adult leaving the family nest to become independent and self-reliant. However, the reward is the knowledge that you are self-sufficient, responsible, mature and self-aware. Here are some pointers to help you along your journey.

1.  Pursue Your Dreams

You’ll feel pressure from others to live your life a certain way. But the best gift you can give yourself (and your family) is to achieve your goals. When you put your effort into something you’re passionate about, you’ll experience success in its truest form.

2.   Live in Accordance with Your Values

Living according to your values can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment, as you will be living your life in ways that matter most to you.

3.   Your Choices Will Have an Impact

You’ll face many choices when you leave the family nest. The key is to have the courage to make the choice that not only feels right butactuallyis the right thing to do.

4.   Embrace Change

Leaving home provides freedom but also many new responsibilities. Prepare for this by reflecting on everything you may face in the coming months.

5.   Learn from Others

You’ll meet people with different backgrounds. Expand your knowledge of how others live, what they believe and what’s important to them. You’ll learn a lot about the world and your place in it.

6.   Set Expectations and Establish Ground Rules

Setting expectations helps everyone find areas of agreement and establishes lines of positive communication that can help make discussing any concerns less difficult. For example, do you and your family have the same expectations for how often you’ll see each other?

7.  Create a Budget and Stick to It

Create a budget of your anticipated income and expenses. If your expenses exceed your income, you’ll have to cut back or generate more income. If your income exceeds your expenses, you might want to invest, save or donate to charity.

8.   Focus, But Make Time for Yourself

Manage your stress and emotions by spending time alone, exercising, reading or doing whatever helps you focus and feel more grounded. Try to focus not only on your current situation but also your desired future state. You’ll accomplish a lot more if you’re determined, open-minded and willing to learn.