Done With The Breakup Blues? Here's How To Level Up Instead
Breakups can feel like your whole world is crumbling. Cue the tears, ice cream, and chick flicks on repeat. It's normal and expected to feel debilitatedly sad for some time, but after a while, you'll be ready to come out the other side. Once you shift your focus away from your regrets, loss, and negative feelings and towards self-care, improvement, and a positive mindset, you'll emerge like a phoenix from the flame. Don't let the breakup break you; use it to become a wiser, stronger, hotter, and all-around better version of yourself: the version of you that'll make your ex want you back, but you'll already be onto bigger and better things. Here are 20 ways to turn your heartbreak into a full-blown glow-up.
1. Practice Self-Care
Refrain from drinking every night and falling into dark corners just because your relationship ended. Self-care can be anything from pampering yourself at a spa to journaling and meditation. These things help boost your confidence, mental health, energy, and relieve stress.
2. Get In Shape
There's perhaps no better cure for sadness and feeling bad about yourself than sweating it out. Working hard at the gym will not only give you an enviable body, but it'll boost your confidence and get your endorphins going to make you feel happier, too.
3. Get A Haircut
Getting a haircut or color change is the classic post-breakup routine. Nothing says "new chapter" like a bold new hairdo.
4. Reconnect With Friends
You don't have to feel alone after a breakup. Many of us neglect friendships when we're in a relationship. This is your chance to reconnect and invest in your friends.
5. Upgrade Your Wardrobe
Go through your wardrobe and get rid of things that remind you of your ex. Then, go shopping! Buy items that give you confidence and make you feel hot.
6. Write & Then Burn A Letter To Your Ex
It might sound like a silly high school girl thing to do, but writing a letter to your ex and then burning it is great for closure. It's the emotional release you didn't know you needed.
7. Learn A New Skill
When you're spending so much time in a love bubble, you're probably not focusing on developing new skills. Think about the things you've always wanted to learn and invest time in them, whether it's jiu jitsu, Italian, or pottery. It'll grow your confidence to get good at something.
8. Block Your Ex
For many, digitally detoxing from exes is a necessary part of the breakup. No drunken phone calls or obsessively watching each other's stories, just peace of mind.
9. Be Selfish
Being in a relationship, you spend a lot of energy focusing on your partner's needs. Now is your time to be selfish and have fun. You're single after all.
10. Be Compassionate With Yourself
Healing is a journey. You're guaranteed to have your ups and downs, so make sure to be kind and patient with yourself. Similarly, when you reflect on your relationship, don't beat yourself up over what you put yourself through.
11. Reignite Old Passions
We often put aside our personal passions when we get caught up in the throes of love. Remember what you loved before the "we" began and invest time in those things.
12. Set New Goals
After a breakup, it's normal to reevaluate your life plans. If before you had couple-oriented goals, now you'll need to figure out what you want to achieve for yourself and set to work making it happen.
13. Think About What You Learned
Switch your focus away from what you lost and towards what you learned. Even the most painful breakups make us wiser and stronger. You can now go forth with a greater understanding of what you want and what you don't want.
14. Let Go Of Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are those little thoughts that we often take away from toxic relationships, like thinking you're too hard to love. Recognize these thoughts and then tear them down so you no longer believe them anymore.
15. Forgive Yourself & Your Ex
A necessary part of getting over the pain of a breakup is true forgiveness. It's not just forgiving your ex for how they treated you and the things that were said, but yourself as well, for all that you put yourself through.
16. Follow A Healthy Diet
Don't fall into the temptation of crying into a tub of Ben & Jerry's. You'll feel much better if you feed yourself properly. Eating whole foods isn't just good for your body, but for your mental health, too.
17. Date Yourself
Who says you need a partner to go out to a nice restaurant? In trying times, it's more important than ever to pamper yourself. Buy yourself flowers, wine, and dine yourself, take yourself out dancing because you deserve it.
18. Get Outside More
Even when you're so depressed you don't want to leave your bed, go outside. Being outdoors is one of the best forms of self-care. Not only are you usually exercising when you're outside, but you're also getting fresh air, sunlight, and nature, all contributing to your well-being.
19. Say "Yes" To Invitations
It's tempting to just stay home and wallow in your own sadness when you're feeling down, but resist the urge. When your friends or family invite you to something, don't think too much, just say "yes." Socializing with those you love will make you feel happy and fulfilled.
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20. Focus On Personal Growth
Being single is the perfect time to focus on self-improvement. Your time is no longer being sucked away by another person, and you can truly focus on yourself because, let's be honest, we often put our aspirations aside and become preoccupied with growing as a couple when we're in a relationship.
