Is It Time To Move On?
There's no clean way to feel fine after someone special exits your life. But there are ways to feel less stuck, like doing things that have nothing to do with your ex and everything to do with you—it's time to put yourself first for a change. These 20 ideas won't fix it all, but they’ll help you take the first steps back to yourself. Are you ready to move? Well, keep reading.
1. Start The Morning With Something You Made With Your Hands
Breakups wreck your sense of control. So, try to regain it by making your own breakfast. Go for something healthy, like eggs benedict or herbal tea. This way, you're reminding yourself that you have the power in your life—not them.
2. Sing A Power Ballad While Cleaning The Mirror
Singing a classic power ballad in front of a mirror can be more than getting the high notes right. It's a therapy session in disguise. Singing loudly while wiping away the remnants of your ex makes the whole thing feel like you're in control, if only for a few minutes.
3. Text An Old Friend With A Meme
You've got a text full of feelings you can't express. What's easier than sending a random meme to an old friend you have not kept in touch with? That tiny, unexpected exchange sparks a connection and maybe a good laugh. No one said you had to talk about feelings to feel better.
4. Pace Like You're Giving A TED Talk
Sometimes, pacing helps you think. You know that restless energy after a breakup? Instead of bottling it up, pace it out. Imagine yourself giving a TED Talk, solving problems with every step. It's like a moving meditation that keeps your mind from spiraling while making you feel productive.
5. Take A Pottery Class And Make A Terrible Mug
Pottery classes are surprisingly cathartic. At first, creating something beautiful sounds enticing, but you'll probably end up with a lopsided mug. And that's the point. It's the messy, imperfect process that mirrors how you're feeling. It's okay not to get it right—that's growth.
6. Score Feel-Good Snacks With Too Good To Go
Post-breakup moods aren't fixed by grocery store snacks alone. The real fun starts with Too Good To Go, an app that lets you hunt down surplus food from eateries at a reduced price. While the snacks aren't the cure, they're a small, happy win in the chaos of moving on.
7. Rearrange Your Room Like You're Moving Out
Moving your furniture around can reset your aesthetic. A breakup often feels like your life's been flipped upside down, so why not physically flip your space, too? It might sound minor, but it feels empowering to change a place where you used to share memories into something that's all yours.
8. Read The Tattoo Letter In Tiny Beautiful Things
Cheryl Strayed's advice is like reading the letter you wish you had gotten after your breakup. The one where she suggests, "Get a tattoo to remind you of your strength." It doesn't have to be permanent, but that idea of turning pain into something symbolic is oddly comforting.
9. Learn Korean And Imagine A K-Drama Life
There's a certain romanticism in learning Korean after a breakup, mostly because it opens the door to a world of K-drama fantasies. It's less about the language and more about imagining your life as a storyline, a beautiful distraction where things improve in every episode.
10. Delete Their Contact And All The Backups
Letting go starts with deleting them from your contacts and every backup file with their name. You don't need constant reminders. It's a small act of self-preservation that gives you the space to heal.
11. Heal Your Heart With Legally Blonde
Elle Woods makes Harvard look easy. Watching her tackle adversity, dressed in pink and high heels, reminds you that strength doesn't need to look tough. Yes, breakups are rough, but like Elle, you can shine through with confidence and heart.
Legally Blonde (2001) | Elle Woods' Harvard Video Essay | MGM Studios by Amazon MGM Studios
12. Do A Puzzle While An Action Movie Blasts
Ever tried solving a puzzle while explosions go off on-screen? Puzzles keep your mind occupied, while the action movie distracts you from overthinking. Suddenly, you're engaged in a new world; before you know it, the pain feels a little more distant.
13. Let Finch Reward You For Showering
It may sound silly, but the Finch app turns self-care into an achievement. Every time you shower or complete a simple task, this virtual pet rewards you with little perks. Post-breakup, forgetting the basics is easy, but having Finch cheer you on can add a little fun.
14. Meditate With Headspace's Grief Track
Headspace app's grief meditation helps manage difficult emotions, where you acknowledge what's happening. The gentle guidance helps you sit with your feelings, letting go of the pressure to immediately feel "better."
15. Journal About What You’ve Learned
Try writing down what the relationship taught you about love, boundaries, or even yourself, not what you lost. This shift in focus turns your journal into a space of strength. You’re building insight for what comes next.
Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
16. Make A Cringeworthy TikTok And Post It Anyway
Making a TikTok is always fun, even if it's cringey. Post it, laugh at it, and feel good about yourself. After a breakup, doing something carefree like this reminds you that it's okay to embrace imperfection, letting your quirks shine without fear of judgment.
17. Cry Over Pixar's Bao Like It's The First Time
Bao is heartbreaking, and it never gets easier, no matter how many times you watch it. The film's themes of love and loss hit deep, especially when dealing with your heartache. Sometimes, crying over an animated dumpling can feel like the most honest form of grief release.
Disney•Pixar's "Bao" Clip - Incredibles 2 - In Theatres June 15 by Pixar
18. Build A Solid Playlist
Make a list of your own personal anthems, full of tracks that help you feel empowered. When you're moving from the aftermath of a breakup, having the right music can heal. Rhythm is good for your mind and triggers happy hormones.
19. Interview A Stuffed Animal About Your Breakup
Talking to a stuffed animal might sound silly, but it can help you process your feelings. So, speak your thoughts out loud to a nonjudgmental plush friend. It can help you gain clarity.
20. Make A Vision Board
Creating a vision board is a way to reclaim control over your future. Place your dreams and goals on a corkboard with pushpins. Then follow up by visualizing your new life, refocusing your energy away from what you've lost.
