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10 Tips for Getting Over a Breakup

10 Tips for Getting Over a Breakup

 

A bad breakup, especially one that is unexpected, can cause all sorts of feelings that interfere with your everyday life. Though it may be tempting to shut the world out and wallow in bed, life will continue around you so it's important to keep moving forward. Here are 10 tips for getting over a breakup.

Cut Contact

 The first step to getting over any breakup is to cut off all contact with your ex-partner. Going no-contact will be difficult at first, but it is the only way to start living a new life that doesn't include your ex.

Any conversations with your ex, no matter how small, will bring up old memories that will interfere with your breakup recovery process. If you really need to tell something important to your ex, have a friend or family member pass on your message instead.

Eliminate Reminders

Anything that reminds you of your ex should be donated, thrown out, or hidden away until such time as you are ready to see them again. This could include gifts they bought you, items you bought together, pictures, and love letters.

 It is also a good idea to delete your ex off of social media so you don't accidentally see any reminders while scrolling through your news feeds. Then, make sure to go through your phone and delete any photos you have there as well.

Stay Healthy

The best gift you can give yourself after a hard breakup is to make your health a priority. It's common to want to eat only junk food after a breakup, or worse, to stop eating entirely. But both choices cause your energy levels to plummet, which will only make you feel worse. 

Eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly will help you to feel refreshed and strong, both physically and mentally. You should also keep your mind healthy and unclouded by limiting drug and alcohol intake and by getting enough sleep.

 Keep Busy

Too much idle time could let your mind wander towards thoughts of your broken relationship, so fill your time with positive activities like visiting friends or volunteering. Distractions will help to lift your mood and to show you that life can still go on without your ex.

 You can also use your newfound free time to try a hobby that's outside of your comfort zone, like painting or rock climbing. Joining a club or taking a class is a constructive way to distract yourself and learn a new skill at the same time.

Let It Out

 Ending a relationship causes a significant emotional reaction that cannot be ignored. Bottling up your feelings only leads to increased pain and frustration, which will delay your recovery. Instead, vent about your breakup to a trusted group of friends, or write about it if sharing out loud is too difficult.

 Remember, though it is healthy to talk about your feelings, it's important not to let them linger for too long. Allow yourself a few vent sessions before consciously making the decision to start moving forward.

Avoid Rebounds

You'll be lonely after a breakup, but don't let the fear of being alone cause you to jump right into another relationship. A relationship that begins before you have fully healed from your last one is doomed to fail, causing unnecessary pain for both yourself and your rebound partner.

An important part of breakup recovery is learning about yourself. If you instantly attach yourself to a new partner, you will rob yourself of the chance to discover who you are outside of a couple.

 Pamper Yourself

Your self-esteem takes a hit when going through a breakup, so practicing self-care is very important. Pamper yourself by watching a TV show you like, by eating a favourite meal or buying yourself a small treat.

Also, don't underestimate the power of positive thinking. Learn to end each day by reflecting on at least one good thing that happened. That way, you'll always go to sleep with a good attitude.

 Dance It Out

It's hard to resist the urge to do something crazy directly after a breakup. But instead of drinking too much or cutting off all your hair, try dancing instead! Turn up the music and have a solo dance party complete with all your silliest and craziest moves to let off some steam.

If you don't like to dance, simply blasting your favourite music is also a good way to clear your head, as listening to music has been proven to have a positive physical and psychological effect on our bodies.  

Give It Time 

Unfortunately, the only real way to get past a bad breakup is to give yourself time to heal. It could take weeks or months to start feeling back to normal, so don't expect too much too fast.

Eventually, enough time will pass that the heartbreak will feel more distant and you will start having more good days than bad ones. Time will heal the wounds from a bad breakup, but you have to be patient and understanding with yourself as you heal.

Look Forward

The life you thought you'd have with your partner is over, and though it may be scary, it is a fact that you have to accept. The sooner you start envisioning your solo future, the sooner you will begin to truly move forward.

 Take the time to discover what you want for your future and set goals for things you'd like to achieve. They can be small, like learning to cook a certain dish, or big, like taking a dream vacation. Having concrete goals will help you to become truly excited for your new future.

Having your heart broken is an experience that no one ever wants to go through. But when it happens, it is important to take control of the negative feelings before they dominate your life. Using these 10 tips, you can work on getting over your breakup and starting to move forward in a healthy and positive way.

 

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