When I caught my last boyfriend cheating on me (with a Hooters waitress, no less!), I was crushed. How could he do this? Doesn’t he value my feelings more than a tawdry fling with some tramp? Clearly not. What a dolt. Anyhow, I soon learned that there’s no sense trying to make sense of crazy. Let crazy be crazy and stay far, far away.
I didn’t come to that conclusion quickly though. After that breakup, I stayed indoors for way too long wondering about my own worth in the eyes of men. What a waste of time. Now, I know that enduring a breakup or divorce can obviously be an incredibly emotional and exasperating time. Whether you’ve parted with a partner of several years or several months, it’s likely you’ve been feeling blue and rather uninspired.
Though it can hard to accept that one chapter of your life has come to a close, remember that new and exciting times await you. Take control of your story and reinvent yourself post-breakup by revisiting an old hobby, signing up for a language class, or exploring an extreme sport. Whatever your interests, get out there and celebrate them.
To help embrace your newfound freedom, he’s a list of activities that helped me get back out there and seize the day:
Embrace Your Inner Wanderlust
Now that you have the opportunity to create your own itinerary, it’s time you embrace your inner wanderlust. Whether you plan to travel solo, or you’ve corralled the ladies for an adventurous road trip. Whip out that travel bucket list you’ve been neglecting and get ready to start crossing off some destinations. Another way to see the sites while also saving money is to embark on a solo cruise. The coordinated stops of cruise lines offer a wide variety of ambiances and experiences — from exploration to romance, rest and relaxation. Ask yourself what you’re hoping to achieve by traveling, be it enrichment, education or just simply adventure.
Foster Your Friendships
Beat the loneliness and fill that hole you feel by spending time with your best friends. There are plenty of scientific studies showing that being around close friends not only makes people happy, but is the key to living a long and healthy life. And who better than your bestie to tell you that he wasn’t worth your time in the first place? Deep down you always knew you were too good for him — why not surround yourself with others who agree with you?
Nature’s Healing Powers
There’s no time like the present to take up an outdoor hobby. Take advantage of the natural healing properties of gardening, which can lower depression and improve mood and balance. If you’re looking for something with a bit more punch, learn about your local water sports. Paddle boarding, kayaking, and jet skiing are all exciting ways to embrace the outdoors. If you’d rather stick to land, map out some of your city’s popular hiking trails. Not only does this activity offer fresh air and scenic views, it also inspires heart-pumping exercise and increases your body’s production of endorphins, the feel good chemical. You could also try checking out some exercise-related meetups or local events.
Become a Foster Mom
If you’re feeling lonely and in need of a loving companion, get involved with your local animal shelter and become a foster mom. All over the country, thousands of dogs and cats are desperate for homes and affection. Give back to your community and make a difference by taking in a temporary pet. You’ll appreciate the distraction from your worries and you’ll feel good knowing you’re helping an otherwise homeless, lonely pet. Who knows, your temporary arrangement could prove to be a lasting friendship!
Find Your Center
Sometimes what you really need after a breakup is some quiet time to heal and regroup. Perhaps now is your chance to explore an alternative career trajectory, or consider relocating to a new part of town or even a new state. Use this time to pinpoint all the things you want out of life, and then create a game plan.
Another way to get centered is to take up yoga and master the art of meditation. Not only can meditation help to you to get happy again, but both yoga and meditation help to manage stress and weight gain. Sounds like a win-win to me!
It is really hard to start a new life without him. But always remember, you are worth it, you deserve someone better. Breaking up is not the end of the world, it is just a new beginning to start with all by yourself.
My ex-boyfriend and I used to live together for 2 years, we rented an apartment at NYC. It was an amazing year we had when we are in our first year, but of course, problems are unpredictable. We had a lot of fight and we decided to break up. He left me at the apartment, but I can’t live there because all I can see is him. I decided to move out and live in New Jersey. It’s hard at first, but you’ll get used to it.
Pets are stress relievers, and they also decrease the sadness that you feel when you are sad.
I agree with nature’s healing power. When I was in my darkest days after my husband left me for another woman. I felt miserable, I didn’t know how to start over again. My friend told me that I should try going out, so I joined them in their trekking once every three months. I enjoyed the nature, and I diverted all my attention to outdoor activities.
This is just advice from the author, and it is up to you if you’re going to follow this or not. I know, there’s no proper steps in moving on, but there’s no wrong in trying.
When we broke up, I didn’t go out of my room for a month. Yes, literally I didn’t go out. I can’t start a new life without him, but then my friends went to our house and pulled me out. We went on a vacation somewhere in Miami. It’s refreshing, and I realized that there’s a lot of beautiful things that could happen to me, and if I lock myself at home, I’ll miss the chance.
Everyone will actually experience this type of pain. It’s the beauty of love, without pain, there’s no love at all.
There’s a lot of way on how to stay happy after breaking up. But before you can actually achieve the true happiness in your life, you need to move on first.
I work out every day to release the anger and lose some pounds that I gain when I’m on my stress eating phase. It helps me to forget my douchebag ex-boyfriend even just for a while.
Hmmm.. I am allergic to pets, but I think it is a great way for me to divert all the attention and love for my ex-boyfriend.