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18 Tips for Coping with a Breakup

When you’re in a [good] relationship, everything seems beautiful. You feel butterflies in your stomach, can’t stop thinking about your partner, want to spend every moment together and strive to make them feel special- at least in the “honeymoon” stage. However, life can take a harsh turn when the relationship ends. Breakups are incredibly challenging, leaving you feeling lost, unappreciated, hurt, miserable, and filled with self-doubt, often clueless about how to move forward.

Yet, where there’s a will, there’s a way. When you’re determined to overcome the complex and painful aftermath of a breakup, you can take baby steps toward getting there.

Breakups are a normal part of life and do not indicate an inability to maintain a relationship. While it is a painful process, moving on is also an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. These 18 suggestions will help guide you through the challenging journey of moving on after a breakup.

1. Allow Yourself to Grieve

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Breakups are a form of loss, a loss to be grieved. Give yourself time and space to understand and grieve this loss. Cry your heart out if you must; if you are getting sad, so be it. Let it be if you are getting angry about small things or the normal routine irritates you. Do not suppress your emotions, as they can prolong the healing process. 

Write your thoughts in a journal or talk to a friend who can understand. Process your emotions through these activities, and then start to move on. Remember, it’s okay not to be okay for a while.

2. Lean on Your Support System

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Your close circle of friends or family will be there for you in tough times. Just reach out and talk about your feelings—don’t hesitate. Their listening ears, calming advice, and insights can help you find a new direction in life.

Family and friends are the most important part of your life. Their presence shows you’re not alone. They’ll help you see the positives in breakups and offer comfort and perspective.

3. Stay Physically Active

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Exercising is an excellent method for managing stress and enhancing mood. It stimulates the release of feel-good hormones, like endorphins, which can significantly alleviate anxiety and other emotional challenges.

Find an activity you enjoy, whether it’s a jog, a yoga class, or a casual stroll. Staying active boosts self-confidence and contributes to an overall sense of well-being.

4. Maintain a Routine

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It’s normal to lose track of your daily routine after a breakup. But keeping a fixed schedule can help you feel more in control and restore some normalcy.

Stick to your usual routine: Wake up early, head to work or school, or stay engaged with your regular activities. Having a daily structure can keep you from getting stuck in negative thoughts.

5. Limit Contact with Your Ex

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After the breakup, we feel the urge to stay connected, but keeping some distance can help us heal quickly. Staying in close contact all the time can keep those old wounds from closing up. It’s better to give yourself some space to move on.

If you need to set some boundaries, just go ahead and do it. Make them clear so there’s no confusion. This way, you can focus on yourself and start rebuilding your life on your terms.

6. Avoid Rebound Relationships

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Confront your emotions rather than avoiding them. Avoid entering a new relationship until you have fully healed from the trauma of your past breakup. Jumping into a new relationship immediately after a breakup merely suppresses your feelings and will not help you heal. Instead, it will leave you feeling confused, emotional, and miserable, negatively affecting your new relationship. 

You may project your feelings about your ex onto your new partner.  Take the necessary time to heal and only begin a new relationship when you are completely prepared and confident that your past trauma will not impact your new bond. This period of self-reflection will give you ample time to understand what you desire in a future relationship, identify your biggest turn-offs and weaknesses, and recognize what you can offer your partner.

7. Focus on Self-Care

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Take a break from your busy schedule and treat yourself with kindness. During this emotional and critical time, focusing on your well-being is essential. Ensure you get proper sleep, eat healthily, limit alcohol consumption, and engage in self-care activities and hobbies that bring you joy. Avoid smoking as a means of coping with depression.

Pamper yourself a little extra, take a relaxing bath, watch your favorite movie, or read an insightful book on self-healing and self-discovery. These small acts of kindness toward yourself can make a significant difference.

8. Seek Professional Help if Needed

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If you’re feeling overwhelmed and know that you cannot cope with it on your own, and nothing seems to be helping you out, then try talking to a therapist. It could really help. They can give you ways to deal with your emotions and work through the tough stuff.

Therapy can be a great way to express your feelings and learn new things about yourself. If you need help, be bold about getting it. Looking after your mental well-being is super important.

9. Explore New Hobbies

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Taking up new hobbies can be a solid way to take your mind off the breakup and find things that make you happy. It’s also an excellent chance to meet new people and grow your social network. It’s definitely worth giving it a shot.

If you want to mix things up, why not join a club, take a class, or start a new hobby you’ve always been interested in? Trying out new things can be really rewarding and fun. You might discover something you’re really passionate about.

10. Reflect on the Relationship

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It is not helpful to keep on thinking about your past events long-term. But looking back at the relationship can teach you a thing or two. Think about what worked well and what didn’t. That way, you can figure out what you want to do differently.

Thinking about this can help you grow and determine what you want in a relationship. It can also make it easier for you to make good choices.

11. Set New Goals

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A breakup can be an opportunity in disguise. It will help you to focus on your personal growth. Setting new goals for your career, travel, or fitness can be motivating. It gives you a sense of purpose and helps you know where you’re headed next.

Reaching those goals can boost your confidence and help you focus on the positive. It’s also good to remember that your happiness and satisfaction in life don’t rely on whether you’re in a relationship.

12. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

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The best gifts you can give yourself to manage your overwhelming emotions and stay in the present are meditation and mindfulness. These strong practices will help you focus on your present self and what is currently happening in your life. They will stop you from ruminating about the past and getting frustrated about the future. 

There are many apps and online tools out there to help you practice mindfulness. Even just a few minutes a day can make you feel better, so it’s worth trying.

13. Travel or Take a Break

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Traveling can heal a person in unimaginable and awesome ways. When you travel, you discover your new self. Going on a hike or to a beautiful beach just for a change is a great way to get out of your own head. This change of scenery can be incredibly healing for people dealing with breakups. Take a break from your chaotic life and plan a trip to mountains, islands, lakes, or anywhere you find relaxing and rejuvenating.

Traveling can open your eyes to different ways of seeing things and give you space to chill out and reflect. Plus, it’s a fun way to make fantastic new memories. 

14. Limit Social Media Use

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If you want to heal from the breakup, it’s best to stop visiting your ex’s social media accounts. This will hinder your healing process. Things posted on social media platforms are not entirely true, so it is easy to misinterpret posts and photos of your ex, which can lead to unnecessary hurt and jealousy.

For the best, take a break from social media or unfollow or block your ex from all sites. This will give you some space and time for recovery. 

15. Write About Your Feelings

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Writing about your experiences, feelings, joys, and sorrows can be incredibly therapeutic. It offers a unique way to express emotions, helping you process inner feelings and gain clarity.

Let your thoughts flow freely. Releasing your emotions can be an excellent way to navigate challenges and may help you identify areas for improvement.

16. Create New Memories

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The past is behind us; what happened is done. Ensure it doesn’t repeat. Make sure that you are not letting it repeat. Instead of dwelling on the past, try focusing on building up some fresh, feel-good memories. Do stuff that makes you happy and hang out with people who give you a boost. That’ll help you move forward.

Going out with your crew or checking out that new spot down the street can help you remember that life keeps moving forward and there’s still happiness to be found, even on the tough days. Those little moments of fun and adventure can make a big difference.

17. Avoid Self-Blame

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After a breakup, many people fall into the trap of self-blame. Thoughts such as “I wasn’t enough” or “I did everything wrong” are common but unproductive. Avoid this self-pity. Relationships are complex, and rarely, only one person is entirely at fault.

Instead, view the breakup as a shared experience and treat yourself with kindness. Learn from the mistakes and events in the relationship rather than shouldering all the blame. Remember, self-blame can be a significant obstacle to your healing process.

18. Practice Gratitude

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Being thankful for what you’ve got can really change how you look at things. Instead of focusing on what you’re missing, you appreciate the good stuff in your life. It can give you a more positive outlook and make you feel hopeful about the future.

Keeping a daily gratitude journal is a great idea. Write down a few things you’re thankful for each day. It helps you focus on the positive things in your life instead of stressing over the negatives, and it gives you a nice little mood boost, too.

14 Signs a Relationship is Doomed, and It’s Time to Get Out

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When it comes to relationships, sometimes it is clear right from the start that things just aren’t going to work out. Other times, it can be more difficult to tell whether a relationship is doomed, and it takes some time to truly realize it.

Yet signs frequently surface, offering glimpses of potential incompatibilities. Some are more subtle, while others are clear red flags.

14 Signs a Relationship is Doomed and It’s Time to Get Out

61 Growth Mindset Quotes to Live By

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Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

Our mindset plays a crucial role in how we see ourselves and other people around us. Also, it shapes our beliefs regarding whether we can accomplish some things in our lives. This is why it matters which type of mindset we have.

61 Growth Mindset Quotes to Live By

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