Breakups suck. And the days, weeks, or even months that follow can be really hard, as you adjust to a new normal without your significant other—but that isn’t to say it’s impossible. You can get over your breakup and move on with your life, just follow these 4 tips:
One, grieve your loss. In order to get over your breakup, you need to first grieve the end of your relationship. Instead of trying to avoid feeling sad or angry, let your mind go there—experience those difficult emotions. Take some time to think back on your relationship, understand what happened, and close that chapter. Journaling or talking to a friend can help you through this process.
Two, take a break from social media. The odds of you running into your ex every day are few and far in between. You know what’s much more likely? Seeing them every day on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Unless you take matters into your own hands and take a break from social media. We can all benefit from a social media hiatus every now and then, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. But if you aren’t interested in disconnecting completely, unfollowing their personal accounts can get the job done, too.
Three, think back on all of your ex’s bad qualities. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology says that focusing on the things you don’t like about your ex—like their nail-biting habit or their bad manners—can help you move on… just don’t go overboard. The research team found that this method truly works as long as it is done sparingly. So, spend a few good minutes thinking about all of your ex’s downfalls, and then move on.
Four, welcome distractions. As long as you’ve followed our first tip and put the work in to grieve your loss, it’s okay to divert your attention from your breakup. In fact, at this stage in the process, distractions are helpful. Remember that study we just talked about? Researchers found that thinking about things unrelated to your ex proves beneficial, too. So, do some digging into a new hobby; turn your attention to a career goal; or, just focus on spending time with friends and family.
These 4 tips will help you get over a breakup and move on with your life.