Breakups: they’re inevitable, unavoidable and as much as our feeble hearts hate it, they’re just a normal part of life. But, knowing that doesn’t make breakups any easier! They are among the most painful and stressful events a person can experience and they’re accompanied by a wide range of negative feelings and emotions including sadness, grief, and anger to deal with. This can really have an effect on your overall well-being!
We hate to break it to you, but healing from that broken heart takes time and patience! It’s hard to figure out how to forgive someone who hurt you. There will probably be times when you’ll want to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, but binging on ice cream and rom coms is not the answer. There are more healthy ways to cope with a breakup. Which is why we’re here to show you the top 16 healthiest ways to cope with a breakup. Coping the healthy way will benefit you more in the long-run and there are tons of ways to speed up the healing process!
16 Healthy Ways To Cope With A Breakup
Take a Time Out:
Breakups cause a spectrum of emotions that will have your head absolutely spinning. And while you might be thinking of doing something drastic, it’s never a good idea to make big decisions when your emotions are running high. Take a quick time out to just allow yourself to process the shock of the breakup, you deserve it! During your time out, listen to We Met At Acme’s Ghosting, Healing from Break Ups, And Attachment Styles (The Book “Attached”) Ft. Amy Chan to remind yourself that you’re not going through this alone!
Examine What You’ve Learned from this Relationship:
Start your healing process by reflecting on what you learned from your relationship. It may be over, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn some valuable life lessons from the situation. Think about, and maybe even write down, what you did and didn’t like about your relationship. Then use these lists as an opportunity to think about what you really want out of long-term romantic relationships.
Reach Out to Your Support System:
Remember that you absolutely do not have to go through your breakup alone! Hanging out with friends and family members can be a great way to cope with your breakup. Your support system can help you in so many ways from just being there to talk, to helping with cooking or cleaning while you’re taking time to process your emotions. Let your support system do what it’s meant to do….support you!
Be Patient with Yourself:
What’s the big hurry? These things take time. And by these things, we mean recovering from a broken heart. Just be patient with yourself! Every breakup is different and it’s not a competition to see how fast you can move on. This is a time of self exploration and reflection. So don’t feel pressured to get back out there before you’re ready. For more tips on how to be patient with yourself, check out The Uncomfortable Podcast: Getting Over A Break Up, How to Put Yourself Out There Again, Loving Yourself.
Do Something You Love:
Think of something you absolutely love doing…something that you haven’t done in a really long time. Now, go do it! Doing something you love will bring you joy and brighten your outlook on life. It will remind you that the end of a relationship is not the end of your life, it’s just the start of something new! We recommend listening to It Sure Is A Beautiful Day – Breakup, Betrayal, and Back to Self for more ideas about how you can get back to your true self.
Find a New Hobby:
Is there something you always wanted to try, but never had the time? Now is your chance to take the extra time you’re not spending with your ex, and put it to better use! Try something new like hiking, painting, crafting, writing, work on a business plan, or whatever your heart desires. You’ll see that a new hobby can be both a great distraction from your breakup and a fun way to learn how to do something new.
Try Meditation:
Meditation is an extremely calming practice that can bring you both relaxation and clarity. You can do it anywhere, which makes it a great stress relief practice you can do at home alone if you don’t feel like going out. Taking some time to meditate each day is a great way to reconnect with yourself mentally and physically and clear your head of all those negative emotions. And meditating doesn’t have to be super time consuming either; try meditating for just ten minutes each day and you might be surprised by the positive effects.
Start a Journal:
Writing down your feelings and emotions is a super healthy way to cope with the wide range of emotions that come along with breakups. Writing is a great way to reflect on your relationship and the things you’d like to change moving forward. Getting your feelings out of your head and onto paper can bring that sense of relief and closure you need in order to move on.
Prioritize Self Care:
Now that you’re single, it’s time to put yourself first! You can prioritize self care by doing some of the things we already mentioned like trying meditation or starting a journal. But you can also prioritize self care by doing a little something extra for yourself. Consider taking a nice bath, doing a facemask, cleaning or rearranging your room, buying yourself something special, or listening to a podcast. Check out these 10 ways to show up for yourself for more tips on how to put yourself first.
Listen To Podcasts About Breakups
Podcasts are a great way to gain perspective and insight. So instead of binge watching TV that is meant to distract you, tune in to some podcasts that help you grow. You’ll give yourself time to reflect and go through the grieving process. Plus hopefully move forward with a more well rounded view of your break up. If you don’t know where to start, this list of the best podcasts for breakups has it all!
Get Some Good Sleep:
Good sleep is essential to process emotions in a healthy way. Lack of sleep can cause you to be more emotional and can make your feelings seem heightened and overwhelming. Consider getting into a better sleep routine, even if it’s short term, as you process your breakup. Small adjustments like going to bed early and getting at least seven hours of sleep can greatly improve your ability to cope with your breakup.
Do Some Exercise:
Let’s get physical! Getting some exercise will make you feel so much better, both physically and mentally. Put all that pent up energy into something productive! Once you get those endorphins flowing, you’ll see that your mood has been greatly improved. Just be sure to take it slow, and don’t over-exert yourself – this workout should be about feeling good!
Eat Healthy:
Eating healthy is important because making sure your body is getting plenty of water, vitamins, and nutrients will make you feel better in general. Getting over a breakup is exhausting, and if you’re not eating healthy, it will be even harder to process those emotions. If you’re feeling tired and worn down, try changing up your diet to include more fruits and vegetables and less junk food and soda. This will make sure your body is getting the energy it needs to cope with this breakup!
Keep Busy:
Keeping busy is a great coping strategy to keep in mind while dealing with a breakup! To stay busy, you can do things like attend sports games in your area, hit the coffee stand, do some window shopping, or do literally anything else that you enjoy. This will keep you distracted from all those breakup feelings and it will give you the opportunity to meet new people!
Get Back Out There:
Let’s talk about getting back in the saddle! Getting back out there with an open heart might seem intimidating. However the best way to overcome your fear is to face it head on. There are plenty of ways to ease back into dating and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A great place to start is listening to podcasts like House Guest with Kenzie Elizabeth: BREAK UP BOOT CAMP | Attachment Theory, Heartbreak in The Brain, Getting Over Your Ex & How To Move On and Relationshit – Moving On and Leveling Up with Bri Springs to get some advice. Then, consider going out with friends, hitting your favorite bar, or downloading dating apps like Tinder or Bumble. You got this!
Seek Outside Help if Needed:
Let’s be clear – there is absolutely no shame in seeking outside help if you’re really struggling with your breakup. There are professional therapists out there who are trained specifically to help people through these exact types of situations. Your mental health should be your top priority and a therapist will be able to give you the expert, medical advice you need to pick yourself back up and move on!
How do you cope with a breakup?
Breakups are hard, to say the least. There are tons of healthy ways to cope with a breakup to keep you from spiraling into an unhealthy pattern of self-doubt and loneliness. Coping the healthy way may even heal that heartbreak faster than you thought possible! We’ve recommended our top 16 healthy ways to cope with a breakup. So now we want to hear your tips on how you survived your last heartbreak. Drop your suggestions below!