BONUS: Surviving An Empty Nest With Amy Schmidt

Is your house quiet? Do you keep buying more food than you can eat in a week? Is your laundry basket empty for the first time in decades?

If you answered "yes" to any or all of those questions, then you might be an empty nester!

Kids are off to college. And, if you are finding yourself with fewer heartbeats at the dinner table, don't worry if you're finding it unsettling.

Empty nest syndrome is legit.

And, it makes sense. You've been a caretaker of another human being for at least 18 years. It's going to take a while to get used to a new normal.

Many people experience fear, anxiety, depression and flat-out confusion during this time.

In this BONUS episode of the podcast, Amy Schmidt shares her personal experience of having kids leave home for college and adulthood. And, she's honest about the conflicting feelings parents have when kids take off. She also explains the term "gray divorce" and why relationships face new challenges during this time.

Amy is an entrepreneur and the creator and co-host of the Better Than Gossip streaming show and podcast.

Don't have college-aged kids? Don't worry. The advice is applicable to anyone facing a big lifestyle transition.

In this Dying to Ask:

• 6 tips to embrace an empty nest
• Why it's time to lose the predictability in your life
• The importance of rediscovering hobbies and developing new interests