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!
I don’t think you can stay happy after a breakup, but healthy- YES. Not the easiest, but you have to try your hardest.
I’ve been with this guy for so many years and it’s not the easiest to move on when you’re so used to having that person around..
I can’t be a foster mom but I already have a pet. And honestly, my pet has been such a cutie patootie and I can’t last a minute to be sad whenever I’m around that little fur ball. Pets are really helpful in helping boost your mood. Not only that, but their very happy nature is very contagious. Just staring at your pet will make you feel like there shouldn’t be any sadness that should be left in this world. If you have a pet and you’ve experienced a recent breakup, just hug that little ball of happiness and everything will be better almost instantly.
I’ve been stress eating because of heartbreak and I want to stop it already. I’m so bad at dealing with feelings like this. ?
My current break up is really painful but I can’t do anything about the pain. I’m trying my best to move on but no matter what I do, I still feel the pain and it just doesn’t go away.
You’ll get over it soon. Don’t rush, we all have different ways of coping.
It’s such a bad idea to travel with a broken heart. We all know how traveling could lead to random hookups with cute guys that could take all the pain away, but in the end it could end up way worse and you can feel twice as broken hearted. Travel at your own risk and make sure that you do it for you! Remember to not use other people to ease your pain because you might end up hurting other people too. Never hurt other people just because you were hurting as well… That’s cruel and it’s not nice at all.
Honestly, even if you give a person loads of tips on how to move on, if he/she is not ready, it’s not going to happen.
I must agree on this one. Let them heal on their own first.
Even after a break up, you should never let yourself be negative. It really helps to turn those feelings into positive ones!
I appreciate the tips listed here but what made me really get back on track after a breakup is acceptance. Personally, doing all of these things to distract yourself from the actual issue isn’t going to help. At the end of the day, you’ll feel that emptiness inside. First, accept all the negative feelings and turn it into lessons learned. Before finally setting yourself free from all these ‘luggage’ that your heart has, you have to deal with it first. Problems are meant to be solved, not to be ignored and for you to run away from. Face it before you leave it and move on. By then, doing all of the things listed here would be the next step to happiness.
Wow I want to do yoga too and just stretch all my blues away.