How to Move On from a Broken Relationship

Give yourself some time. It's important to grieve the end of the relationship. Whether it lasted a few months or you shared years of memories, including pets and a home, your emotions are valid. Allow yourself to cry, reflect, and accept that it's truly over.

• Use this time for self-reflection. Consider writing your thoughts in a journal to deeply understand your feelings.
• Allowing yourself this space could help you move on from the relationship more quickly. Some people even choose an "end mourning date." While this won't mean you're fully healed, it signifies a conscious commitment to start moving forward.

Let your feelings out. If you feel the urge to cry in bed all day, go ahead. If you need to vent your frustrations to a friend or have a good cry, do it. Just make sure you give yourself the time you need, and avoid rushing into a new relationship right away, especially to get back at your ex or to make them jealous.

Remind yourself why the relationship ended. It's normal to miss your ex and wish they were still around – you were accustomed to their presence, even though it wasn't always comforting. But you must stay strong and remind yourself of the reasons the relationship ended.

• Even though it might be painful, think back to a time when you felt truly unhappy in the relationship. Write it down on an index card or save it on your phone to carry with you. Whenever you find yourself questioning the breakup or longing for your ex, refer to it for clarity.

Learn to identify negative thought patterns. Feelings of bitterness, guilt, and regret can easily overwhelm you when trying to move on from a relationship. However, you can train yourself to recognize these thoughts by jotting them down and later analyzing them to identify emotional triggers. By understanding what sparks these feelings, you can learn to avoid falling into a negative emotional trap.

• Review your journal entries as if they belong to someone else. What patterns do you notice? What advice would you give this person? What should they avoid?
• Highlight words or phrases that repeat. When these thoughts resurface—whether it’s your ex’s name, a specific place, or an idea—interrupt your thought process. Prepare a mantra or a song to help you redirect your focus and reward yourself for breaking the cycle.

Steer clear of self-destructive habits. Engaging in behaviors like smoking out of anger or resorting to alcohol or drugs will only prolong the healing process and harm your well-being. Instead of indulging in self-destructive tendencies, find healthier outlets.

• If you're seeking a distraction, consider trying something beneficial. For instance, take up cycling, dive into creative art projects, or reconnect with a musical instrument you once enjoyed.

Cut off communication with your ex. Stop texting and calling. Avoid having awkward lunch dates with your ex, even if you think you can be friends someday. Before you can truly be friends, you need to learn how to be independent. At this stage, maintaining contact with your ex will only make it harder for you to move on.

• If you need to take a break from mutual friends for a while, do it. If you really want to see them, make plans separately. This isn't cowardice—it's about protecting your emotional health. Also, explore new places to socialize—bars, parks, and restaurants that carry no emotional baggage.
• If you bump into your ex, don’t panic. A simple hello is enough—there’s no need to engage in a painful conversation.

Take a break from social media. You might be tempted to check Facebook for pictures of your ex with someone new, but this will only deepen your pain and fuel obsessive thoughts. Even if you're determined not to contact them, you’ll still find yourself wondering if your ex has seen your latest post or photo.

• Stay off social media until the idea of seeing your ex's photos no longer triggers strong emotions.
• Alternatively, consider blocking or "unfriending" your ex. This can serve as a clear signal that the relationship is over.
• Reader Poll: We surveyed 807 Mytour readers, and 51% recommended taking a break from social media for a couple of weeks after a breakup. [Take Poll]

Get rid of items that remind you of your ex. Do a relationship spring cleaning. If you can't bear to throw them away, stash them in a bag and hide them at the back of your closet. Even if a stuffed animal your ex gave you during your first date means a lot, pack it up along with everything else.

• If there are personal items belonging to your ex—like sweatshirts, books, or electronics—return them right away. You can have a friend deliver them to avoid unnecessary emotional strain.

Redecorate and make your space your own. Especially if you were living together, refresh your living environment by moving things around, even if they don't directly remind you of your ex. Add plants, rearrange furniture, or introduce new décor to create a peaceful and fresh atmosphere. It's important for your healing to minimize the remnants of your shared life together.

Take a short getaway. While you may not be able to just pack up and move to a tropical destination, visiting family or exploring a new place can help broaden your world and offer valuable perspective. It’s a great way to start enjoying activities you love and focusing on yourself after a breakup.

Spend quality time with your friends. Once you're ready, reconnect with your friends, laugh together, and enjoy meaningful conversations again. Use your newfound free time to reconnect with old friends, meet new people, or turn an acquaintance into a close friend.

• Do things that were off-limits in your relationship. If your ex wasn’t a fan of sushi, organize a group outing to your favorite sushi spot. If your ex never wanted to attend metal concerts, gather some friends and dive into the mosh pit.

Reconnect with your family. If you’ve been consumed by your relationship, you might not have spent as much time with your family as you would have liked. Now is the perfect time to enjoy their support and reconnect. You’ll get the chance to relax, have some home-cooked meals, and maybe even visit familiar places from your past.

• Spending time in your hometown could also bring opportunities to reconnect with childhood friends or revisit your old stomping grounds.

Explore new activities. Instead of sticking to the routines you had with your ex, try embracing new interests, picking up a new hobby, or stepping out of your comfort zone.

• Unleash your creativity. Write a song, craft a poem, try painting or sketching. Express yourself in ways you’ve always wanted but never tried.
• Start a new fitness journey. Take a yoga or Zumba class you’ve always been curious about. Exercise not only helps reduce stress but could also spark a new passion.
• Push yourself outside your comfort zone. Sample new cuisines, go hiking even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, or try skydiving if you’re feeling bold.
• Pick up a calming hobby like knitting, coin collecting, or bird watching to help you stay grounded.

Find tranquility in solitude. While keeping busy with friends and fun activities can be a good distraction, if you truly want to move on from the past, learning to be comfortable with your own company is essential. You might eventually come to enjoy your alone time.

• Take regular walks in nature, whether in local parks or by lakes. It’s not only great for physical health but also provides an opportunity for personal reflection.
• Get lost in a book. Spend hours reading while sipping tea and let the world around you fade.
• Start writing. Whether it’s journaling or working on a short story, writing can help you explore and discover more about yourself.

Take time to enjoy being single. Don’t rush into finding someone new right after a breakup. Instead, embrace the freedom of being single and enjoy doing what you want, when you want. Many people in relationships wish they had some time to themselves, so view this phase as an exciting opportunity, not a burden.

• If someone asks you out before you feel ready, it’s perfectly fine to say, "It’s too soon." If there's real potential, it will still be there when you're ready to take the next step.

Enjoy meeting new people and flirting. One of the perks of being single is the excitement of chance encounters. Who knows who you’ll meet next while out shopping or at the library? Engaging with new people is an important step in your journey forward.

When you're ready, go on a date. Let a friend introduce you to someone or create an online dating profile. It’s important to approach this slowly and enjoy meeting new people without putting pressure on yourself to commit right away.

Be clear about your desires and be truthful. Think about what you might have done differently in your last relationship. Now is the time to begin fresh and do things right from the start.

• Don’t hesitate to voice your opinions. If you encounter any "deal breakers" in the early stages of dating, be honest and don’t ignore them just because it feels good to be out there again.

• Avoid isolating yourself after a breakup, as it can lead to serious depression.
• Don’t turn to alcohol or drugs to cope, as this only leads to addiction and greater problems down the road.