8 Things to Do to Get Over a Breakup

Heartache and breakups are, for most people, an unfortunate part of life. Supposing you're not one of the lucky few who manage to avoid suffering the pain of a relationship breaking down, you'll know there's no surefire way to deal with these situations. Although there's no quick fix for a breakup, there are plenty of things to help you get back on track and move forward. While we often hear how getting back on the dating scene or joining the likes of Tinder or Hinge can allow you to move on, there are other, less daunting approaches you can take.

Here are some of the best things to do to overcome a breakup.

Allow Yourself Some Time to Grieve the Relationship

Spending too much time wallowing can sometimes set you back, but giving yourself the space to let your feelings out is a must. Without grieving the relationship, you're forced to bury your emotions rather than face them, making it more challenging to let go of the situation in the long run. Be kind to yourself in the first few weeks after a breakup, and avoid putting pressure on yourself to feel at peace with what's happened right away. Expressing how you feel is the first step to starting a new chapter.

Remind Yourself of the Reasons Why the Relationship Didn't Work Out

Even if you broke up for all the right reasons, it's easy to wonder if staying in the relationship would be better than how you're feeling right now. These thoughts are expected in the initial stages of a breakup and generally dissipate as time goes by. However, if you find it difficult to make peace with what's happened, remind yourself why the relationship ended. To give yourself some clarity, it might be worth writing down the various reasons for the breakup, as it can be more impactful on paper than in your mind.

Avoid Contacting or Seeing Your Ex-Partner

Whether you had an amicable or hostile breakup, it's not uncommon to find yourself fighting the urge to contact your ex. If you know deep down that the reasons for the breakup were either for the best or out of your control, there's no need to get back in touch with one another. Social media has made steering clear of an ex after a breakup significantly more challenging. Thankfully, pressing the block button will ensure your Facebook or Instagram feeds are free of any reminders of what your ex-partner is up to. Better still, it saves you losing hours of your time deep-diving on their profiles.

Keep Yourself Busy

Keeping yourself busy is the way to go whenever you're trying to distract yourself or shift your focus away from something bogging you down. The same advice applies to a breakup, and doing so can help you to settle your thoughts and gain some perspective. Of course, there's no way to keep yourself busy around the clock, but occupying yourself will minimize the time spent buried in your emotions. Concentrating on work, socializing, and interests of your own can boost your mood and give you some direction.

Surround Yourself With Family and Friends

Spending time with loved ones and people who lift you up is one of the most beneficial things to do when you're feeling low. Building yourself back up alone is overwhelming at times, and family and friends can positively affect your self-esteem and outlook. Our romantic entanglements can often distract us from other relationships in our lives, which also need to be cultivated and cherished. Even though breakups bring immense hardship, they also remind us of how important our other connections are.

Learn to Prioritize Yourself Again

Romantic relationships sometimes require us to give a lot more of ourselves to a partner than we would to anybody else. While this is a natural part of life when various circumstances arise, it makes it easy to lose sight of some of our own goals and interests.  As you come out the other side of a breakup, you might find that you have more time on your hands. This is the perfect opportunity to realign your focus on yourself and think about what makes you happy. Perhaps there's a sport you used to love that you haven't played in years or a trip you never completed that you once dreamed about. Whatever it is, you now have the chance to make yourself a priority again.

Don't Push Yourself to Start Dating Again Until You're Ready

Everyone moves on from a breakup in their own time, so there's no need to place expectations on yourself to start dating again within a given timeframe. Some people meet a suitable partner within weeks of ending a relationship, while others may not feel ready for upwards of a year. There's no specific timeline you have to follow, so be patient with yourself and go with whatever feels right for you. If you feel ready but nervous about getting back into dating, start with a double date with a friend or a more low-key meet-up.

Try Out Something New That You've Always Been Interested In

Is there something you've always been eager to try but never took the plunge? This is the time to do it! Sometimes, we need a new project or goal to center our attention on after enduring a breakup, and picking up a new hobby or skill is a fantastic way to do exactly that. Maybe it's not a new hobby you're looking for, but you still feel the need to make a change. For some, revamping their hairstyle or overhauling their wardrobe may be the adjustment they need to feel re-energized and renewed.

Learn How to Help Yourself Bounce Back From Your Breakup

Breakups take time to process and recover from, and it's essential to remember that everyone's journey is a little different. With these tips and tricks, you can steadily start to rebuild your life at your own pace.