You broke up with your boyfriend last night and it’s just beginning to hit you.
Regardless of whatever led up to the breakup, you can’t deny that you’ve lost a little part of yourself – a part that you shared with your ex. Newly single, you don’t want to have a mental breakdown but you also don’t want to pretend you’re happy.
As one of the #WomenThatDo, you’re stronger than you think, so when your relationship ends, there are steps you can take to remind yourself that things will get better in time, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.
Here are 16 ways you can take care of yourself after a breakup.
It’s good to have time to think about what the future entails, but don’t spend too much time alone. You’re at a vulnerable stage right now, so remember to also spend time with family and friends every day.
Get it all out of your system. It’s natural to crawl into a ball and cry for a few days, so let your body take over until you can handle your grief without needing a box of tissues by your side.
Don’t forget that your friends and loved ones are there for you. They care for your well-being and are probably right outside your door waiting for the right time to comfort you.
Explain what happened once to your friends and family. Don’t keep reliving the breakup over and over again. There’s no need to keep talking about the breakup – it’s over and you can’t take it back.
Remember the activities you stopped doing because you were so occupied with your new relationship? Now that you’re newly single, it’s the perfect time to pick up old hobbies or try new ones.
Work through the pain. It feels so rewarding to get your duties done instead of having your responsibilities pile up.
Make a new Instagram account or delete the Facebook pics of your ex. Out of sight, out of mind.
Don’t keep checking up on your ex over social media. You two broke up for a reason, so don’t keep tabs open. Live your life, not your ex’s.
Don’t dig yourself in a deeper hole. There’s nothing wrong with staying friends with your ex after a break up, but make sure you’ve had plenty of time and distance before you start up a friendship.
Keeping grudges is not good for your mental health. If you are able, forgive your ex and forgive yourself. Then take some time to learn from the breakup.
Force yourself to get on a good sleeping schedule. It becomes even harder to deal with the pain of a breakup when your mind is racing all day without time to rest and heal.
It can get dangerous when you rebound right away. Don’t mess with anyone else’s feelings when you’re not in complete control of your own just yet.
Go for a hike, hit the gym, take a kick boxing class and just get active. Release those stressful feelings with a workout – turn your pain into motivation to build a stronger body and mind.
Focus on your ambitions for some time. Instead of focusing on your ex and the breakup, move that attention towards achieving a new goal.
Remember that present you were going to get your ex for an upcoming birthday or holiday? How about spending those funds on a new goodie for yourself!
Don’t forget that these uneasy feelings are temporary. You won’t feel like this forever. As cliché as it sounds, time really does heal wounds. It’s going to be tough to recover, but you’re a strong woman and there are things you can do to get back on your feet. You’ve got this.
