Most people who have ever been through a breakup can at least agree on one thing: It sucks to have to end a relationship. There are very rarely any clean breaks and, let's be honest, most couples don't remain friends after things are over. It's OK to have a little grieving period and to mourn over a lost relationship, but it's not healthy to drag it out for a long period of time. A breakup is both an ending and a beginning. After all the crying is done, you have to start looking at it as more of an opportunity than a loss.
Think of yourself as being able to get back on the market and search for a relationship better than your last one. Take the lessons you learned from your past relationship and acknowledge what you did or didn't like about it, and then keep your eyes open for a relationship that fits your needs. If you need time to move on or get over someone, an article from TresSugar suggests plenty of healthy options for getting back on track with your life.
Photo courtesy Elin Ivemo via Flickr
The first thing you have to do is get out there and start over. Do things that you couldn't or wouldn't do while you were in a relationship. Go see a concert and loosen up, but avoid any artists that remind you of your ex. Go on a road trip with your closest friends and immerse yourself in an environment that is new, exciting and takes your mind off the breakup. Take a fun class that you've wanted to take but never got around to taking like yoga or photography. And finally, get involved in your community. Volunteering is a rewarding experience that will not only make you feel better as a person, but also helps to improve your community.
The TresSugar article also suggests using a breakup as a time to work on and pamper yourself. You can start by having a day of indulgence — a day where you can treat yourself to watching a movie or a TV show that you consider a "guilty pleasure." Follow this up with a day of shopping with your friends and try out new makeup or clothing trends that you never really considered trying before. And as always, there's no time like the present to start taking risks and going on adventures. Come up with spontaneous activities that you would put on a bucket list, and go for it. Face your fears and push your boundaries.
For a few more suggestions, you can visit the TresSugar article by following the link above, and be sure to check out their other great advice about love and relationships.
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