15 Practical Tips on How to Get Over a Heartbreak (2024)
Heartbreak is never easy to get over. It’s more than a feeling that comes and goes quickly — it’s your psyche taking a massive hit. It can feel like the end of the world.
But it isn’t. It’s normal to feel sad after a breakup, but it’s best not to fight it. Allowing yourself to feel the pain is actually one of the best ways of getting over heartbreak.
How to Get Over a Heartbreak?
1. Allow Yourself to Feel the Pain
The first step towards getting over a broken heart is allowing yourself to feel the pain associated with breaking up with the one you loved.
It can be hard dealing with heartbreak pain, you might want to numb yourself from the pain or push it away, but you will never be able to heal if you do this.
Instead, allow yourself time each day to cry, scream or even write down how you feel so that you can process everything that happened and begin healing from within.
After unleashing intense emotions, you’ll feel calmer. Researchers at Yale University have found that crying may help restore emotional equilibrium. Tears contain stress hormones that are flushed out of your system when you cry.
2. Cut Off All Communication With Your Ex
When someone you care about has broken up with you, the best way to overcome heartbreak is by cutting off all communication with them. When you’re still talking to your ex, you’ll constantly remind yourself of them and their impact on your life.
This can be very painful, and it can also prolong your recovery process by months or years because you’re constantly thinking about what could have been between you two. But by cutting off all communication, you’re giving yourself space to adjust to their absence and move on with your life.
Ignore their emails, block them on social media platforms, and delete their number from your phone. This approach will allow you to start fresh without the other person influencing your well-being.
3. Call Your Best Friend
Talk to your best friend after a breakup. It can be tough to survive a broken heart alone. You may want to avoid telling your close friends right away because you don’t want them to feel bad.
But you’ll need an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on during this period. Talking with your best friend can help you in coping with heartbreak, especially if they know much about your relationship.
Besides providing you with some much-needed emotional support and advice, they could help you care for other things, like preparing nice meals for you and handling the chores.
4. Get Regular Exercise
Physical and mental stress are common experiences for people dealing with heartbreak. But exercise helps to cope with the stress.
Working out often releases endorphins (natural painkillers) in the body, which makes you feel happier and more positive.
There are a few different ways to exercise when getting through heartbreak. You can take a walk or jog around the block as a medium to clear your head and get some fresh air.
Yoga or stretching can also help to relax your body and mind. If these tasks are daunting, try finding an exercise buddy and work out together in a group setting.
5. Go Traveling
If you’re keen on moving on from heartbreak, traveling can be a great way to distract yourself from your current situation. It also gives you a chance to see the world, learn about other cultures, and find new friends.
Moreover, being away can be just what you need to cut off contact entirely with your ex. You will be out sightseeing and breathing in the fresh air instead of repeatedly stalking their Facebook profiles.
Before you step out, make a list of the places you’ll love to visit. Also, write out the things you’ll love to do; festivals, scuba diving, health retreats, surfing, or whatever tickles your fancy.
6. Go to Therapy
Therapy is a great way of overcoming heartbreak and healing after the end of a relationship. Many people find that going to therapy helps them process their emotions, learn new coping skills and improve their overall mental health.
While therapy can be beneficial, it’s important to find the right type and therapist for you. Psychotherapy, in particular, is a type of therapy that helps people work through emotional issues.
It would be best to look for someone who has experience in this area. Also, have a clear idea of what your goals are. If you are not ready to start therapy, it may be best to wait until you are ready.
7. Say Yes to Every Social Invitation
You might be tempted to avoid all social gatherings after a breakup, but that’s not the best strategy. It can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Instead, focus on building new relationships and participating in social activities — even if it’s just one small gathering.
Accepting extended invitations to you shows your friends and family that you are taking conscious steps to stop feeling heartbroken and start moving forward in your life.
You’ll feel more comfortable enjoying the company of others at this time. Plus, you can meet someone new at these events and make new friends for life.
8. Focus on Your Goals
One of the best ways to get over someone is to get involved with a healthy distraction. During this period, take some time to focus on what you want out of life.
You may have spent so much time and energy on your past relationship that you lost sight of yourself and your goals. But it’s never too late to get back on track.
Rather, it’s a good time to start rebuilding your self-esteem and confidence through a strong commitment to your goals.
If you struggle to stay focused or persistent with your plans, consider finding an accountability partner, a friend, or a family member.
9. Do a Social Media Detox
Social media is an excellent medium for sharing your feelings with the world. And when a breakup occurs, you’ll most likely feel tempted to turn to social media as a means to cope with heartbreak.
While this may feel like the right thing to do at the time, it could be doing more harm than good. Trying to express the hurt of a broken heart through social media exposes you to more potential criticism from other people.
If you spend hours on social media every day, you may want to consider reducing your use. Try using services like RescueTime to track what time you are spending on each site and set a daily limit.
10. Focus on Helping Others
Another way to handle heartbreak is to render help to people around you. Have you heard the saying “helping others helps you?”
It proves to be true, especially for people trying to overcome heartbreak.
Helping others creates a sense of purpose. As you create and strengthen social connections, you’ll experience a boost in your energy level and elevation in your mental health.
You’ll easily let go of the last sad experience and focus on moving forward in such a state of mind. Consider volunteering your time in a support group, community service, or donating to a cause.
11. Write a Letter to Your Ex, Without Ever Sending it
Psychologists recommend writing a letter to your ex after a breakup without ever sending it.
If you want to stop the heartache that comes after a breakup, you should consider this approach. It allows you to vent your feelings without re-opening the door for your past lover.
Before you write the letter, ensure that the timing is right. If the breakup is still fresh, you could erroneously blame them for everything that went wrong or blame yourself for things you didn’t do.
So wait till a time you’re level-headed, pour out your heart into the page, and save it afterward.
12. Don’t Wait for Closure
Waiting for closure after a breakup is like waiting for healing to happen without taking care of the source of the pain. The sooner you accept things for what they are, the sooner you can move on.
If you wait too long, your grief will worsen. Don’t give yourself any more time than necessary to accept the loss. Start by acknowledging that it’s truly over.
Don’t try to figure out why things ended or blame yourself for anything that went wrong.
No matter why things ended or what mistakes you made, there’s nothing to gain from dwelling on those thoughts or insecurities.
13. Find New Hobbies
One of the reasons people feel lonely after a breakup is that they aren’t doing anything new. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and miserable, channel your energy into creative tasks you enjoy.
You can decide to go hiking, play chess, write a new story, or learn a new skill. There’s no shortage of options when it comes to picking up new hobbies.
Just make sure you’re clear about your goals, so they align with your hobbies.
By finding new hobbies, you will not only succeed in distracting yourself but also build a sense of belonging and community that may have been missing in your life before.
14. Reconnect With Old Friends
Reconnecting with old friends is a great way to get over your breakup. It helps to ease feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you haven’t seen each other in a while, sending an email or text can be a perfect way to reconnect. Consider inviting them over for dinner or inviting them to go out for coffee.
If you feel like you’re holding back from old friends because of the situation, try to be honest with them and explain that things are different now.
You must not necessarily detail how the breakup went; basic knowledge will do.
15. Don’t Jump Into the Dating Game Too Soon
Don’t jump into a new relationship immediately after a breakup. It’s not healthy to start online dating before you’ve emotionally processed the pain of your last breakup.
Give yourself time to heal first. It doesn’t mean you should avoid dating altogether — just give yourself some time to figure out what you want from the next stage of your life.
Take advantage of the downtime to build your self-esteem and re-establish your boundaries.
Waiting could give you more time to think carefully about your ideal partner and how they can help meet your needs.
That’s what makes long-term relationships instead of flings that end in heartbreak.
FAQ
Why does heartbreak hurt so bad?
Heartbreaks hurt so bad because you suddenly get disconnected from a source of happiness and energy you used to enjoy. It deprives your brain of the “feel good” chemicals.
How long does it take to get over a broken heart?
The time length required to get over a broken heart depends on the individual. Some people can overcome heartbreak in a few weeks, while others take months to recover.
What are the 5 stages of a breakup?
In her research on grief, psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross presented grief’s progression, which is akin to the five stages of a breakup. This includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
How do you get over a heartbreak when you still love them?
The best way to get over heartbreak when you still love them is to cut off all communication and contact. You’ll easily adjust to the new reality by seeing and hearing less from them.
How do I stop loving someone?
If you want to stop loving someone who doesn’t appreciate or reciprocate your love, you should first accept things for what they are, then give them space.
Why can’t I let go of my ex?
If you find yourself struggling to let go of your ex, it could be due to innate insecurity, low-self esteem, or childhood abandonment trauma.
What do guys do after a breakup?
What most guys do after a breakup is feign indifference to the situation. Even when they talk about the heartbreak feeling, they try to be unemotional.
How do you accept a relationship is over?
To accept a relationship is over, be honest with yourself to reinforce the current reality. Then allow yourself to grieve the heartbreak to your satisfaction.
Does a relationship work after a break?
Some relationships work after a break. A 2013 study revealed that over one-third of cohabiting couples and one-fifth of married couples have split in the past and gotten back together.
