Try to remember that forcing something that’s clearly not working is far more painful than standing alone for a little while.
If you’ve got it bad — I mean, the really bad I can’t get out of bed, I just want to exist on pizza and beer from the comfort of my sheets for the next 3 years sort of bad — you’ve got to set the tone for the day the second you open your eyes.
Breakups not only take up all of our headspaces, but they also eat up our energy, too. You’ve just been handed a bunch of free time back, so use it productively.
Social media can be fabulous when you’re looking for love, and devastating when you’re getting over it.
Let’s face it: our partners tend to like us the way we were when we met them and often want us to stay the same. Use this time to reinvent who you are and rediscover who you wanted to be before this relationship came along.
Don’t wallow in old shared music for long. Clean out your music cache and rediscover some new favorites that inspire you.
Each time we experience something new, our brain creates new neuropathways that allow us to write new stories. This is why we feel so relaxed on vacation: we’re creating new neuropathways and rewriting old patterns with fresh data.
Think back on the person you were prior to your recent relationship. Were there interests and hobbies that got lost along the way?
Whether it’s in your men’s group or with a group of close girlfriends, figure out a way to symbolize your ending and your new beginning. A ritual can be as simple as a solo all-day hike in the forest or a shopping expedition for a new look.
This step obviously cannot be rushed. Previous stages must be walked through, but it’s nice to put the icing on the cake when you’re ready.