Can’t figure out what to do after a breakup left you reeling?
Discover what experts from across the wellness world suggest in this list.
Ellen Huerta, founder and CEO of the breakup appMend
- clinical psychologistCarla Marie Manly, PhD
3.
Count to six as you breathe in, and six as you breathe out.
Hydrate.If youre crying often, this is especially important.
Be sure todrink plenty of water.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
Feel your feelings.Drop any resistance to feeling your feelings, and just let them be.
life coachKimberly Lucht
6.
Leave the house.Get some fresh air.
Go for a walk, get groceries, do an errand.
The more quickly you reacclimate yourself to normal life, the more quickly youll feel normal again.
relationship expertSusan Winter
7.
Lucht
To create some separation from your ex
clinical psychologistGoali Saedi Bocci, PhD
relationship therapistDebra Roberts, LCSW
10.
Think hard before reconnecting withanyex.Try not to make decisions based on your current acute need to connect with someone.
Instead, weigh the positives and the negatives of reconnection, and make your decision based on that info.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
Roberts
To heal your heart
- career coachMaggie Mistal
12.
Laugh.For as long as possible, because doing so releaseshappyhormones.
Embrace the quiet.You might have a hard time feeling your feelings.
clinical psychologistAimee Daramus, PsyD
- psychotherapistJennifer Silvershein Teplin, LCSW
16.
Lie on the ground for a few minutes.Its a surprisinglysimple way to get, well, grounded.
Hug extra hard.Hugging can be healthy for you, so make those squeezes count.
Sending a sweet love letter to yourself can be a tremendous way to increase your sense of self-appreciation.
Online dating shouldnt be a Band-Aid or an ego boostits a tool to meet people.
dating coachErika Ettin
20.
Go out, take a walk, call or text a friend or family member.
clinical psychologistHelene Brenner, PhD
22.
When the timer goes off, plan on doing something that will take you out of that feeling.
psychotherapistLarry Letich, LCSW
To tend to your physical health
24.
Exercise.Make time for movement of whatever pop in you like best.
certified sexologistAlicia Sinclair
27.
Dance.Play your favorite song, and get to grooving, or try out this10-minute cardio dance workout.
Kristina Headrick, movement and meditation guide, and founder of wellness retreat companyYia Mas
28.
Pick up ahula hoop.
Just for a burst of childlike fun.
Take apole-dancing class.Because this isjustthe time to be feeling yourself.
To get some emotional support
32.
Capitalize on that first sympathy-heavy week.Gather your allies, and surround yourself with loving and supportive friends.
Make time to see these allies for coffee, lunch, or dinner.
Winter
To embrace self care
- life coachSusie Moore
36.
I was decompressing and tending to myself instead of hitting up loud and overwhelming clubs or bars.
Read.There are numerous emotional and mental healthbenefits of reading books.
Its a gorgeous, healthy escape, and youll have interesting book stories to share on future dates.
(If you prefer torewatch the same TV shows and movies, go for a more familiar favorite.)
Pet an animal:A pets unconditional love and supportive presence does wonders for boosting a mood.
Contact with loving pets naturally increases the level of feel-good neuro-chemicals in the nervous system.
Enjoy hygge nights in.Embrace theJOMO (joy of missing out)that comes with fewer social obligations.
Revisit your relationship (but only a little bit)
42.
Write a letter to your exbut dont send it.Let it all out, then mindfully burn it.
Vacation Fling Gets a Reality Check in New Romance Book Swept Away
44.
Energetically refresh your bedroom.Usecrystals to neutralize negative energyin your home.
Arranging your space according tofeng shui principlescould help, too.
Declutter your space.Take after the time-honored saying, Out with the old, in with the new.
A good place to start?
Clearing out anything in your home that belongs to your ex.
Erica Feldmann, owner of metaphysical shopHausWitch
48.
Redecorate.A little home refresh can help inspire a fresh start.
Strapped for cash or cant find anything you like?
Reconfiguring what you already own can have just as big an impact.
To reflect and introspect
49.
Journal.Cracking open that Moleskine offers myriadmental health benefits.
Doing so has been proven to decrease stress and improve sleep quality.
We shouldnt rush that process of becoming.
clinical psychologistKrystine I. Batcho, PhD
52.
Get in touch with your heritage.Breakups rattle our sense of who we are.
What better way to repair this, organically, than by connecting to your lineage?
Headrick
To expand your world with new experiences
53.
Take yourself on asolo date.Its confidence-bolstering and reconnects you to the most important person in your life: you.
Read reviews and email people who have been there.
travel coachDylan Grace Essertier
55.
Take atrip with friends.
Challenge your inner strength with a solo adventure.
Begin learning how to speak a new language.Its a helpful distraction that makes good use of your cognitive resources.
Let yourself connect to all that life-giving energy.
Cook a new recipe.The possibilities areendlesshere.
Try this soothingavgolemono soup recipeif youd enjoy some Mediterranean comfort food.
See if the vibrational energy shakes out any new sense of catharsis for you.
To tap into your spirituality
65.
Try areiki session.Any energy healing is welcome energy healing in the wake of a breakup.
Learnto read tarot cards.One card tarot pullsare particularly accessible for beginners.
Learntasseography.Its similar in spirit to reading tarot cards, but with caffeine.
Hold healing crystals.Figure out the besttypes of crystalsfor your needs.
You might like rose quartz, moldavite, or moonstone post-breakup.
Reflect on your behavior in the relationship.Ask yourself if you like who you were with your ex.
Dr. Brenner
To reinvent your physical appearance
73.
Give yourself a post-breakupmakeover.
But maybe enlist some second opinions before you grab the scissors.
Learn how toFrench braid.Its never too late to master the sleepover-chic look.
Start a newskin-care routine.Its called a post-breakup glow for a reason.
To focus on personal growth
77.
Turn toward work.Now is a great time tobuild your careerand boost your sense of personal ambition.
It doesnt have to be mucheven saving five dollars at a time helps.
financial expertAngela K. Holliday, president of Frost Investment Services
79.
Reevaluate your finances.Take a look at your budget with fresh eyes.
You just went through a life change, and goals may have shifted.
Say thank you.Express your gratitudeoften, especially to pals who are helping you through the breakup.
Smile.Smiling has many benefits1, and receiving a smile back can create a positive feedback loop.
To reconnect socially with others
84.
Be present when your loved ones go through their own difficult times.Empathy is a two-way street.
Make a friend in a different age bracket.You stand to learn a lot from an intergenerational friendship.
But after all that is said and done, resist the temptation to repeat endlessly.
Talk to others abouttheirbreakups.Get yourself some outside perspective as a reminder to yourself that youre not alone.
Record them saying this on your phone, and play it as often as you need.
Roberts
To find love again
94.
Flirt.Lean into yourflirting style, and test it out on anyone who gives you that spark.
Even just the act of compiling the profile can offer some helpful introspection.
Kiss someone new.When youre emotionally ready,relearning how to kisssomeone new will be a delight.
Know that time heals all wounds:And that, truly, everything will be okay.
[before making any net-new changes].
Jess Carbino, PhD, dating expert
Dont contact your ex, either.
More often than not, nothing helpful comes from these conversations, says Dr. Carbino.
Instead, make a clean breakat least until youve processed the breakup and canmove toward friendship.
How long does it take to get over a breakup?
The acute pain of losing a key person in your life wont last forever.
So, how long can you expect it to take?
Thats because different seasons of the year may remind you of this person in different ways.
for each season, she says.
What are the symptoms of a traumatic breakup?
Somebreakups stay with you and live in your mindin ways you might not expect.
That kind of breakup is bound to dredge up old trauma and feel harder to shake as a result.
Coles, Nicholas A et al.
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